Product Description
In this hybrid of fantasy, memoir, and editorial, former Rolling Stone editor and Hollywood insider/outlaw Joe Eszterhas spares no one. He covers the Clintons, Monica Lewinsky, and Linda Tripp in Washington, D.C.; Sharon Stone, Farrah Fawcett, and David Geffen on the West Coast; and everyone involved in politics and entertainment - living or dead - in between. Combining comprehensive research with insight, honesty, and fiction, American Rhapsody is an in-your-face look at the people running this country. It is also a rollicking good tale filled with humor, tragedy, suspense, high drama, and melodrama. And, of course, it's spiced with plenty of sex. With performances by a cast of experienced actors, this romp flouts virtually every rule, joining the rich tradition of works by Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, Tom Wolfe, and Hunter Thompson.Amazon.com Review
American Rhapsody is a gleeful act of outrage, simultaneously anassault on the Clintons and a bridge-burning, tell-all Hollywood memoir inthe wicked spirit of You'llNever Eat Lunch in This Town Again. Joe Eszterhas's narrative is atorrent of consciousness with no consistent sense of direction, but it allerupts from a plausible organizing principle best articulated in thechapter "Bubba in Pig Heaven": Hollywood is where Clinton really belongs.The author claims Bill watches Blazing Saddles six times a year, andsays that Gennifer Flowers got him blazing by enacting a Sharon Stone-likecrotch-shot scene years before Basic Instinct. When a sarcasticClinton allegedly told a Hollywood producer that his enemies would soon beaccusing him of coupling with a cow, the producer sent him Eszterhas's 1989screenplay Sacred Cow, in which a president does just that.Eszterhas claims Spielberg dropped the film because of his friendship withClinton. But he still thinks Clinton would be great in the role.

The Lewinsky saga really should be ho-hum by now, but AmericanRhapsody's Evel Knievel-like leaps of free association and mad briobreathe life into it. You've never been properly introduced to Linda Trippand Lucianne Goldberg until you've read "The Ratwoman and the Bag Lady ofSleaze," its uproarious take on the pair. American Rhapsody givesdozens of stars time in the sweaty spotlight: Matt "the Scavenger" Drudge,heroic Larry Flynt (whose threat to report Republican scandals Eszterhascredits with quashing impeachment)--almost every big political scandalvictim in memory. And there are lots of Hollywood types behaving badly: Bob Dylan,Warren Beatty, Ronald Reagan, Farrah Fawcett, Sharon Stone, Robert Evans,Sly Stallone (who wanted to portray Jesus onscreen), and even JoeEszterhas. The fantasy chapters, printed in boldface, are sometimes funny(e.g., "Kenneth W. Starr Confesses"), but mostly they're both over the topand below the belt (e.g., "Willard Comes Clean," the confessions of thepresident's penis). What holds your interest is the main narrative, a headymix of showbiz gossip, personal essay, and Lester Bangs-style prose mania.--Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Joe Eszterhas has created a genre
This book is as unique and entertaining as an 8 course meal served by a team of strippers in a library.

I like Bill Clinton MORE after reading this book and suspect that he is privately a Joe Eszterhas fan.And why not?Joe Eszterhas has more closet fans than any modern American writer.

No closet for me, thanks.Joe rules.

And a P.S. to Bill... America didn't hold the knobber against you.It's just that after JFK and Marilyn, we have pretty high standards.No hoggin' in the oval office, bro.If it had been Charlize Theron we would all have high fived you.Even Hillary would have understood.

:)

Irresistably preposterous-- But know what you are in for
Eszterhas the book writer is more intriguing and ideosyncratic than Eszterhas the screen writer.Be prepared for a 60's counter culture apologia pro vita sua with interesting detours (such as a tribute to Barry Goldwater).

The book is ultimately a tour of America the Horny across the life span of baby boomers."Life span" is the proper term, since there is raunch enough for a lifetime.The organizing principle is that Bill Clinton is the avatar for the sexual acting out of the rock and roll lifestyle.Clinton is not particularly revered here, although Hilary is portrayed as so cold (and maybe gay) that Bill had little choice.

There is a lot of malicious gossip here, but some is true.The challenge is distinguishing between gossip that is malicious and that which is false and malicious.

For all the astoundingly diverse sexual activity described, there is a clinical detachment.Eszterhas uses few words (save when quoting others) that the New York Times would not print.

Eszterhas narrates lots of the book and is not an especially skilled reader-- although the ring of authenticity he gives keeps it from being annoying.Ed Asner is a fine reader.

Be prepared for Eszterhas's substantial ego.

?????
I tend to vote Republican but refuse to align myself with the Right Wing or Moral Majority. I'm the guy in the middle that the candidates are really after.I say that as any review on this book should be tempered by the politics of the reader.JE is an avowed Democrat with socialist leanings.Read his most recent book "American Animal" to verify this.So it was surprising as I read the first third of this book that after an initial bow to Clinton as the Rock & Roll Prez, one of "us", he then seems to chastise him for his fatal flaws.This part of the book is interesting, engaging, but also somewhat repetitive.I still couldn't wait to read it my allotted hour a night.

But there is only so much you can talk about this subject and JE rambles on and on until he finally manages to really offend me.How?Well, I just finished his most recent book, "American Animal" an autobiography which I immensely enjoyed.Full of Hollywood stories.But reading this, I see that JE has included many of the stories I enjoyed from his autobiography in this political commentary/fantasy.So is he a writer with a message or is he just repeating his few stories to make a buck?

I don't know what to make of this book, thus my title.Did I enjoy some parts?Yes.Are there some interesting stories?Yes.But there is a lot of waste.It's like wandering thru a jungle with a machete looking for your trail.When you find it, it's worth the work.So maybe the only item I can add of interest came from reading this with some years of aging.JE takes on Arianna Huffington who he spends quite a bit of time describing her history to show what a bad person she is and how she climbed to the top while stepping on other people's faces.But would JE have included these chapters in this form if he had known that within a few years she would shift sides and now disavow her right wing leanings?I think not.

This is not a great book.But if you enjoy reading, maybe you will enjoy it.

Decent and Deplorable- in prose from the spheres.
This is the truth! I never read any other of these exposes and during the majority of the media coverage of the episode that led to Clinton's impeachment- I switched to the animal planet. After reading some reviews on Amazon, I bought this book and I'm glad I did."The Comeback Kid" takes plenty of flack from the author, but Eszterhas spares none.I like the names: The Big Kielbasa- Wilt Chamberlain, "The Bag Lady of Sleaze"- Lucienne Goldberg, the lady who got the story into the media,"Hilla the Hun," "The Night Creature"- Nixon- "The Manchurian Candidate"- McCain- "The Rat Woman,"- Linda Tripp, it goes on to the current president named, "The Crown Prince."The coarsest individual does have the funniest lines, i.e.LBJ- too much to repeat here. The few who seem to get off lightly, like Monica, and believe it or not- Barry Goldwater and Newsweek Magazine who had the story and never printed it.
Perhaps the most effective and distressing part of the book is when Eszterhas does a mini retrospective of all the things we didn't want to know,but did over the years, here are a few: Sen. Harkin blowing his nose on CNN without a handkerchief, Bush Sr. throwing up in China, Buchanon saying "Congress is an Israeli occupied territory," Bob Dylan and Elizabeth T., LBJ turning to the side and taking a whizz at an outdoor press conference, Nixon and Kissinger kneeling together and praying, Spiro Agnew, "If you've seen one city slum you've seen them all," Michael Jackson and his chimp, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. (?)

Eszterhas obviously knows more and remembers more than is probably good for him, but his prose is stunning as is the manner by which he weaves the book together- even with some fiction.The author was the screenwriter for Fatal Attraction and had a relationship with Sharon Stone- who also takes some upper cuts and was rumored to have been intimate with Clinton as well. I definitely recommend reading this- for the humor and frankly, The gossip is completely consuming.

MUCH more than smutty tell-all
What a memorable and highly rewarding read.This book is much more than the sum of it's salacious and often repugnant contents; it's also a lecture on morality and a history lesson as well.I don't see how someone who reads this book can be derisive regarding the interlacing of fiction or the sheer amount of sordid detail.Given Eszerhas' talent for script writing and keen interest for the underbelly of the American society, how his book is put together should be no surprise.It's certainly not a novel or a bucket of heresay poo.
I am one who is generally both revolted and amused by the tabloids, and shows like Entertainment Television.But I could not put this book down.The book is informative and revealing, and I found myself lauging out loud and cringing, often while reading the same paragraph.I particularly enjoyed the moments where Eszterhas reflects on his own life; it's probably the most engaging aspect of the book.Expecting to find a smutty and over the top tell-all, I found something rich in intelligent, values-based writing. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Will Sasso, Brian Budd, Jeff Francis, Mitch Berger, Rob Short, Davis Sanchez, John Cummins, Kevin Eiben, Robert Edward Bell, Tyler Connolly, Vince Abbott, Tyson Mulock, Jenny-Lynn Hutcheson, Martin Cummins, Michael Lee. Excerpt:This article is about the former Canadian soccer player. For the similarly named British Army soldier, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, see Bryan Budd . Brian Budd (April 8, 1952 June 11, 2008) was a Canadian professional soccer player best known for winning the World Superstars competition three years in a row from 1978 to 1980. He was also a soccer sportscaster . Early years Born in Toronto and raised in Delta, British Columbia to an Atlantic Canadian couple, Brian was the second of four children and only son. His father Leighton was strict and the two did not have a very good relationship . Budd was an all-around athlete in his youth. He was a competitive swimmer and was training to be a figure skater until he quit at age 14. He did not focus on soccer until he was 19 years old. Superstars From 1977 to 1979, Budd won three straight Canadian Superstars competitions. His victories earned him a spot in the annual World Superstars contests, produced by U.S. broadcasters ABC Sports , which Budd won each time. That prompted the creation of a rule barring anyone from competing in a Superstars competition after their third victory unofficially called the "Budd rule." Budd believed that ABC wanted him removed from the show because he was not well known to the American TV audience. His total winnings from the Superstars contests were about $170,000. Budd was an excellent all-rounder, doing well in each event that he competed. His best event however was the chin-ups . Soccer Brian Budd College Budd won a CIAU championship medal as a member of the UBC Th... ... Read more

Product Description
This lively collection of four stories gives voices and names to women from biblical and ancient times whom weseldomremember. But God Remembered imagines and remembers, and weaves the stories of:

Lilith, the first woman in the garden of Eden, and her determination to have men and women treat each other as equals; Serach the musician, who, with her song, reveals to her grandfather Jacob that his son Joseph is still alive, and whose courage to speak out heals the wrongs of another generation; Bityah, who draws the baby Moses from the Nile and with a mother's bravery encourages him to become who he will be, proving that taking a risk to do what's right can change the world; the bold-spirited Daughters of Z, who struggle against discrimination with great daring--and extraordinary results.

But God Rememberedis a modern reclaiming of the Bible, a celebration of courageous and wise women from ancient tradition. These stories invite children of all ages to remember, and to bring their own faith and dreams to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A wonderful book to share with your daughters
I have shared this book with my children and given copies as gifts.It is beautifully illustrated. The author tells the stories of biblical women in a very modern and memorable way. This is a lovely tribute to women in the Old Testement that young girls will identify with.

A must for all ages!
Many of the lessons we all need to hear are best heard from the perspective of a child -- and by becoming childlike in our listening!These are the old stories so often over looked by our culture and our religious communities.A must to read to all children.A must to celebrate with the women of tomorrow! But I have used this book mostly with adults to re-enforce positive feminine lessons with a biblical back up they did not know exists.Let us continue to tell the stories!The author and illustrator do a beautiful job keeping the message alive!

God remembered
Sasso has taken four "incomplete" little known stories from the Bible-- the stories of Lilith, Serach, Bityah and the Daughters of Z-- and filled in the blanks, so to speak.The result is a beautiful volume that is a pleasure to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Every child develops an image of God by age 5, sayspiritual experts. This simple, beautiful book will help you and yourchild explore spirituality together for the first time.

For people of all faiths, all backgrounds. Based on the award-winningpicture book In God's Name.

Much has been written about the importance of reading simple,beautiful books to babies and preschoolers to stimulate braindevelopment.But perhaps even more important, what you read begins toshape your child's world, and creates the images that will remain withhim or her throughout life.

We read books to our children about letters, numbers, shapes, colorsand safety, but do we give their minds the early food they need tothink about life's bigger questions?As spiritual development expertsnow tell us, each child develops an image of God by age 5, with orwithout religious instruction. What is God's Name? takes you and yourchild on an imaginative journey designed to help you open not onlyyour child's mind, but your child's heart and soul as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

God for young children
This is a version of IN GOD'S NAME (for elementary age children) by the same author. Both are beautifully illustrated with multicultural illusatrations and teach inclusion to help make our world come together rather than divide us.

A beautiful book
This is a beautiful book. I just wish I had known that it was essentially just an abridged board-book edition of her other book, In God's Name, I didn't need to buy both.

does it actually have God's name in it?
I was interested to buy this book and was wondering if it actually has Jehovah's name in it. I do think that knowing God's name is one of the most basic teaching for our precious children.

Beautiful Book
This book is beautifully written and illustrated and a great book for kids of all ages. My 2 year old loves it. It is not too preachy and can appeal to any group of people.

Lovely Illustrations
My baby loves this book, especially the pages with the mother and father. It manages to be diverse and inclusive without seeming stilted or preachy. Lovely little book. ... Read more

Product Description
Wonderfully interactive, invites children of all faiths andbackgrounds to encounter God through moments in their ownlives. Provides questions adult and child can explore together. Vividwatercolors imitate the childish virtue of putting enthusiasm beforeexactitude, creating a relaxed and comfortable setting for wonderingaloud. A must for Chanukah, Christmas....For every day you want tohelp a child & parent find God in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great introduction to the concept of God
This is a wonderful book that opens a child's imagination to what God might be like.Adults, who live in the conditioning they have acquired throughout their lives, would certainly benefit from it as well.Beautiful multicultural illustrations.

Beautiful, poetic language
God's Paintbrush, written by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Annette Compton, is a different kind of picture book. It does not have a central character (or characters) and it does not tell a story. It is more a collection of vignettes about everyday situations that children encounter. Each short narrative is followed by a question, or questions, that connects the issue with how God fits into our lives.

One example is that of a young boy talking about his best friend moving away. He says he is sad and he hurts inside. The question is then asked, "What do you think makes God hurt?" Another example is a scene where Mom and Dad are tucking their child into bed, giving him hugs and kisses. The question, "What does God's touch feel like to you?" makes you think about being able to "feel" God's presence. All the concepts help to illustrate how God relates to all aspects of our lives. The questions that go along with each scene are thought-provoking and sometimes unusual. No answers are given to the questions. This allows the reader to think about the ideas and come up with answers on their own.

What I Like: I like the different format for the book, as well as the variety of scenarios and situations presented. The language of the text is also beautiful. It's quite poetic and invokes powerful mental images. One example is: "I think the wind is God's breath moving through the world, making it come alive."

What I Dislike: The watercolor illustrations are colorful, and represent many multicultural issues and cultures, but they are a bit sloppy in appearance. I think they distract from the text rather than add to it.

The title of the book was also somewhat misleading. Because it is called God's Paintbrush, I thought it would be filled with beautiful artwork representing God's wonder and glory in the natural world. However, the only mention of "God's paintbrush" is on the first page: "A sunbeam peeked in my window this morning, and painted a rainbow on my wall. I think the sunbeam is God's paintbrush dipped in a watercolor sea, painting clouds and coloring our world." With the exception of this first page, the title seems to reflect the "painting" of the pictures that illustrate each different concept about God.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, the book is meant for 9-12-year-olds. This is probably because the reading level is too high and the book too long for younger readers to make it through on their own. However, I think 4-8-year-olds would enjoy the book, if read aloud to them, and broken down into small chunks, as the book is rather lengthy for a picture book.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

Great Teaching Tool - Triggered Lots of Questions
I found this book great for triggering discussion with my four-year old and a six-year old friend about the nature of God. It presents a series of scenarios and questions designed to help children explore different aspects of God. From watching clouds, to the changing seasons, to feeling lonely, it uses experiences young children can readily relate to as springboards for spiritual questions. The vision of God that emerges is anthropomorphic in nature, and this may make it more appropriate for those with Judeo-Christian leanings, but it is most definitely non-denominational, and its exploratory nature left room for a non-affiliated believer like myself to feel comfortable.

An Excellent Tool
I am a Preschool teacher in a Christian school. We have many children of different faith backgrounds that attend our school.
Sandy Eisenberg Sasso has taken the topic of faith and made it possible to discuss with any person of any denomination, religion or culture.
The book is very thought provoking and allows children of all ages to think about God in a personal way; to realize that He has a unique relationship with each one of us.
Each time I read one of her books to my class, the children respond to the messages from the heart.
I recommend this book to any teacher, parent or caregiver.
Rita Colotti

Touches the Mind and the Heart
This book engages children of all ages as well as the adults who may be reading to them.Both my 7 year old daughter and my soon-to-be 11 year old son were drawn in by the relevance of the stories as well as the simple yet captivating images - which delighted even my 2 year old.The questions posed stimulated their imaginations and at the same time made God accessible.They were free to wonder about a God who now seemed more like a friend.A great work is one that touches not only our minds but our hearts.This book does just that. ... Read more