Product Description
An authoritative bestseller for nearly 50 years, PERRINE?S LITERATURE: STRUCTURE, SOUND, AND SENSE continues to be an essential and highly effective introduction to literature for today?s students. Written for students beginning a serious study of literature, the text introduces the fundamental elements of fiction, poetry, and drama in a concise and engaging way, addressing vital questions that other texts tend to ignore, such as ?Is some literature better?? and ?How can it be evaluated?? A remarkable selection of classic, modern, and contemporary readings serves to illustrate the elements of literature and ensure broad appeal to students of diverse backgrounds and interests. Now thoroughly updated with more than 100 new stories, poems, and plays by some of the finest authors of any era, the tenth edition remains true to Perrine?s original vision while addressing the needs of a new generation of students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Perrine Literature
I was very satisfied with the product once I recieved it. Everything I read about it before I ordered the book was exactly how it was delivered to me.The condition of the book and the price was extremely awesome to me. I don't know if I can even fully explain in words my excitement and satisfaction with my shopping experience on this site.Before this, I did have my reserves about shopping online. Since this order, I ordered several other books from this site and will order more in the future and would highly recommend to others.Thanks,Nadirah Sabir - Ellenwood, GA

excellent
I'm very impressed with the fast delivery of this product and will be using your services in the future.

perfect condition
perfect, new condition. great book. took a while to arrive, about a week, but it's brand new. love it!

Slow shipping and the book was written in
I payed 3.99 dollars for shipping and it took over 2 weeks to get here!

Good book, in good condition
The book was only slightly bent at edges, and nearly all the pages are in excellent condition. Also, it shipped to my house in time for school, although I ordered it a bit later. ... Read more

Product Description
The Science of Sound is widely recognized as the leading textbook in the field. It provides an excellent introduction to acoustics for readers without college physics or a strong background in mathematics. In the Third Edition, Richard Moore and Paul Wheeler join Tom Rossing in updating The Science of Sound to include a wide range of important technological developments in the field of acoustics. New exercises and review questions have been added to the end of each chapter to help readers study the material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good Textbook
I received my order in a decent time span. The book was in good condition.

Wonderful!
Product came quickly, flawless, and reasonably priced. no gimmicks, will do business with seller again soon!

Exceptionally Clear
This book is exceptionally clear in its writing and careful attention to definitions and summaries of key facts.I wish all of my technical books were this clear.

Lightweight!
This book is very informational and thorough for a college student.Best of all, for a decently thick book, it's very lightweight! Great for a student like me with a bad back. Highly suggested for anyone who wants to learn more about the world's sounds.

A real page-turner...
An abundance of writing and grammatical errors do not make the already confusing explanations in this book any easier to grasp.I got bogged down in technical mistakes before I could begin to use the provided formulas. This is one of the worst textbooks I've ever read, and taking a supplemental course from one of the authors only added to one of the worst experiences of my college career. ... Read more

Product Description
The zoo is a noisy place, full of hooting monkeys, barking sea lions and roaring polar bears. This title allows little hands to press the buttons and copy the animal noises. It features picture tabs that allow scenes to be located quickly and easily. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Noisy Zoo
I bought this for my grandson who is 20 months old.He LOVES it!

Great book for little the little one!
Our little girl is seven months old and doesn't have a ton of interest in books...yet.This book is the exception to that rule.Currently, it is hands down her favorite book.The pages are nice and sturdy, the pictures are bright and colorful, and the sounds are interesting and at the right volume (not too loud, which is a problem with some of the other make-a-sound books).As the first reviewer already mentioned, the buttons can be a bit challenging to work (it seems you have to push firmly right in the middle of the picture to get the noise to work).So the baby can't push those buttons by herself yet, but she seems perfectly content to bang on the pages and look on in eager anticipation while I push the sound buttons for her.Haha.There are also eight different sounds, which I think is just the right number - good variety, but not too many to make her lose focus.We read it every night just before bedtime.The best make-a-sound book I've come across.Would definitely buy again, even with the button issue because, for me, part of the fun is making the sound for my daughter before I press the button and having her turn to me with a look that says, "What are you doing?":-)

cute book with great sounds but challenging buttons
I got this for my 2 yr old son because he loves to make animal sounds. He loves the sounds the book makes, but the buttons are too difficult for him to push on his own. He hasn't had the book for long, but I still would have thought a book for babies and preschoolers would be easier for the baby/preschooler to use. The text is repetitive: Ggrrr What a noisy lion! ah-roo What a noisy elephant! The pictures on the tabs at the top of the book match the pictures on the sound buttons. Overall, it's a cute book with great sounds, but I wouldn't buy it again because of the difficult buttons. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the deans of preaching in the African American church has responded to the ongoing demand for a "how-to," step-by-step approach to powerful sermon development. Proctor's years of proclaiming the Word of God, pastoring, and effective classroom instruction to pastors, teachers, and seminarians make this a must read for even the seasoned pastor. Foreword by Gardner C. Taylor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must Have...
This is a phenomenal book.It is a must have for anyone who take preaching seriously.Proctor is clear in his explanation and good with his examples.This is good book to help explore one style of preaching. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the world’s oldest unbroken spiritual traditions is that of the Bön people—the indigenous people of Tibet, whose teachings predate the arrival of Buddhism. These traditions have survived political persecution and upheaval thanks to the efforts of a handful of dedicated lamas such as Bön lineage holder Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Now with Tibetan Sound Healing, practitioners can connect to the ancient sacred sounds of the Bön practice—and through them, activate the healing potential of the natural mind. The Bön healing tradition invokes The Five Warrior Syllables—"seed" sounds that bring us to the essential nature of mind and release the boundless creativity and positive qualities that are fundamental to our natural consciousness. Through the medicine of sound, practitioners learn to clear obstacles on the level of the body, the energetic and emotional dimensions of being, and the spiritual consciousness. Through this integrated book and CD learning program, Tenzin Rinpoche gives users the tools to access wisdom and compassion and use the vibration of sacred sound to cultivate the healing power within the body’s subtle channels. Lama and Bön meditation master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is renowned for his gift of rendering ancient texts in a warm and clear way to his Western readers. With Tibetan Sound Healing, he reveals the secrets of Bön sacred syllables and invites us to join him in sound to purify the body, connect with our inherent perfection and completeness, and to awaken spiritual virtue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Exceptinal service
was so impressed on how quickly my item arrived. It was carefully packaged and in great condition. I would definitely recommend this seller!

Valuable and to the point
This book gave a very direct approach to sound healing as it is practiced by Tibetan practitioners. I recommend this book to anyone interested in sound healing.

Simple and effective meditation techniques
This book and accompanying CD are excellent.

- The authors voice is very soothing (I have a number of meditation CD's that I can't listen to because the authors tone is grating).

- The sound meditations are very powerful and easy to do.Note that it's more helpful to chant/sing along, but you can listen and still receive some benefit (in my opinion anyways).

- This CD is very similar to Wayne Dyer's Meditations for Manifesting.If you like Tibetan Sound Healing you may wish to check out Dr. Dyer's.

- When I think of healing CD's, I usually think of physical healing and the usual imagery/affirmations.Note that this CD is more general.You can choose something physical to meditate on or something like emotional pain, or other non-physical issues, relationship problems, etc.

I'll close by saying that Rinpoche nailed me in the first chapter.I'm a dabbler.I like to read about meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong, etc, but never actually practice any of them. He comments on this directly and after reading the first chapter I felt that this was something special.

Practical meditation exercise for a clear mind
This beautifully illustrated book contains a CD that guides reader through a simple 30 minute meditation practice. The meditation incorporates chanting the five sacret Tibetan sounds combined with visualisation. It is easy to do and the effect is a clear mind and a joyful soul. I highly recommend this book for those who want to experience the benefits of regular meditation.

Healing Sounds
Tibetan Sound Healing helped me calm down and focus.That is the goal of meditation for me and this CD helped.
John Cutler Anderson, Lucky (nickname) ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (19)

Welcome to the world of sound!!!
I really enjoyed reading this book. A great introduction to the world of healing sounds. Easy to read and understand. Useful excersices and a beautiful 30 min CD. Is a must read for anyone interested on sound healing. Thank you very much Jonathan, wonderful book!

CD glued to book and will not play!!!!!!
I was so excited to get this book and CD....The CD was GLUED TO THE BOOK!!when I finally got it free, the book in the back was mangled and the CD won't even play...So disappointed.I should have just packed it up and sent it back before trying to get the CD out. But I figured the book will still read the same despite back of the book mangled.But the CD won't even play.Very disappointed.

The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing: Includes a FREE Sound Healing CD! (Book & CD)
The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing: Includes a FREE Sound Healing CD! (Book & CD)

Jonathan Goldman's, "The Seven Secrets of Sound Healing (with CD)," is a marvelous mini-compendium describing seven aspects of sound's healing benefits. Jonathan's masterful presentation is fluid and fluent, brimming with brevity, when considering the broad scope this whole body of knowledge covers. Here's how.

Through Jonathan's book we take a retrospective journey to remember how fundamental sound is to any global transformative experience, whether that be a renaissance, cultural revolution, or technologic explosion. When ever and where ever change happens, sound was there first.

Jonathan's discipline could very well corner every modality, as these all relate to vibration, but instead he generously honors all legitimate practices giving credence to various modalities, illustrating how sound plays a vital role in each unique therapeutic delivery.

This book is a great start for one interested in science, spirituality, well-being, consciousness studies and self-healing.

Buyer Beware! Kindle Edition
This review is specifically regarding the Kindle edition of this book. Although the cover artwork and the write up says it comes with a CD it does not. I expected an MP3 download of the CD but there is no such thing. I contacted Amazon and they said it does not come with a CD regardless of what the cover or the book itself says. As a result the book only has limited value without the audio portion. If you just want to read the book fine, if you want to hear the audio portion you are going to have to buy the actual book.

Really Makes You Think
This book is now one of my favorites. I will probably re-read it a couple times due to the scientific evidence to back up Goldman's claims. We tend to forget that we are almost completely made up of water, and the images from experimentation with water and sound blew me away. The CD is lovely, but it just doesn't last long enough! Goldman won himself a new follower. I will definitely be buying more of his products, and soon! ... Read more

Product Description
According to Sufi teaching, music is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the universe--and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us. The Indian Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan, the first teacher to bring the Islamic mystical tradition to the West, was an accomplished musician himself. His lucid exposition of music's divine aspect has become a modern classic, not only among those interested in Sufism but among musicians of all types. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Simple and the Profound
Hazrat Inayat Khan's teachings awakened me to a new level of awareness of how my own
simplest, most natural perceptions, are amongst the most profound, and ancientteaching guides for finding the way to a mystical dimension.

A fascinating book
I must admit I had heard of Hazrat Inayat Khan a long time ago and been a little sceptical of his works as they were mostly popular amongst the 'supermarket spirituality' brigade.You know, the kind who have a copy of Gibrans "The prophet" under their arms and Moroccan incense burning at home.

I was surprised when reading this book however, to find that it is an insightful study into the spiritual meaning of music.Anyone who plays a musical instrument regardless of if they are religious or not will know how the sounds and rhythm of the music can move both them and those who listen, they will know how different sounds can have different effects, how a song can move a person to tears of sadness or joy while another can move one to anger.

This book details the effects on both the heart and soul of music and how music as understood my more 'ancient' peoples was a sacred thing.How music is used by Sufis in their rituals and the meaning behind it.Religious conservatives have always tried to ban music especially from religious rituals while failing to understand the powerful effects that music has on the heart and soul and how music is just as if not more powerful than the word.

A wonderful book that should be read by any musician and/or follower of religion.

the mysticism of sound and music
great book, inspiring and enlightening, I enjoyed every page of it. I would recomend this any musician and any body who's interested in the eastern philosophy of how laws in music are so supernatural and connected to life.

Divine words...
This is indeed one of my most treasured books and very close to my heart.Khan's words flow easily as balm from Heaven to the ear and to the mind and heart.Understand how our thoughts and words affect the world... their intent, sound and vibration have far reaching results."The music of life shows its melody and harmony in our daily experiences.Every spoken word is either a true or a false note, according to the scale of our ideal."The prose of Khan's words flows as beautifully as a concerto and straight to the heart.

Enlightenment through Music
The challenging part about reading a book by an enlightened being is that the author is writing from an experience of consciousness (non-duality) that is impossible for the ego (duality) to comprehend.However, Hazrat Inayat Khan's writing is easily understood and could be valuable to both spiritual aspirants on the path to enlightenment and/or musicians looking for deeper levels in their artistry.This is a book to be studied, not just read.In it are keys to understanding the mysticism of sound, music, color, words, and silence. ... Read more

Product Description
With Snappy Sounds Boo!, children can experience the thrills of seeing and hearing skeletons jumping out from their graves, a ghost train swiftly moving through the darkness, owls hooting as bats circle a haunted house, and organ music playing as witches and monsters dance at a wickedly fun Halloween party. Each page reveals a unique sound paired with large pop-ups, as well as questions that teach children new words and assist in identification and comprehension. Innovative and educational, this bold, brightly colored interactive combines the best of children's top selling formats — pop-ups and electronic — in a novel and entertaining way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Little scary for little ones
This is a cute book for Halloween but a little scary. My little girl is two and was a little hesitant when we read this the first few times. Great for older kids!

Pop up book
Bought three of these for a Halloween surprise for my grandchildren. They all love books and I expect this will be a bit hit!!

Fun Book
I bought this when it was on sale, so for the $5 I spent on it I was impressed. Each page has it's own musical tune and I was happy that unlike some other reviewers all of them worked. My daughter loves this book! The only negative thing I can say is that the front cover is a bit beat up.

Adorable
This is the second time I purchased this book. I originaly purchased this book for my grandaughter for Halloween when she was just one. She wore it out high fiving the skeletons and "Frank" as in Frankinstein. She was a little apprehensive at first of the scary sounds but learned to love it all. It's still one of her favorites.

Cute Book
This is a cute children's book for Halloween. It has pop-ups as well as sound effects. The only reason I gave it a lower rating is because my particular copy of the book wasn't operating properly. The very last page didn't pop up correctly and there was no subsequent sound effect because of the failure to open completely. ... Read more

Product Description
Many excellent books teach God's principles of finance. Perhaps one or more of them has helped you lay a strong biblical foundation for carrying out your money management responsibilities. But as you try to apply those principles to making real-life investing decisions, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the jargon and the sheer number of investment possibilities.

Investment adviser Austin Pryor has carefully created the "next step" guide that helps you put Godly principles of finance into motion. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor, you'll benefit from stepping across this bridge between "theory" and "action". Each user-friendly lesson is written in everday English and filled with helpful visual aids. In this revised and updated edition of The Sound Mind Investing Handbook, you'll learn

- What investing is and why it's actually quite simple
- Six characteristics of investing that glorifies God
- What important steps to take to prepare yourself financially before invest
- What mutual funds are and why they make investing easier than ever before
- How to use your personal investing "temperament" and present "season of life" to make decisions and limit your risk
- How to implement an investment strategy that's guaranteed to help you keep pace with the markets
- Tax-wise ways to invest for college, including the state-sponsored 529 savings plans
- The pros and cons of investing internationally
- The rules governing IRAs and 401(k)s and which should have the priority
- How to make the calculations needed to make sure your retirement countdown is on schedule

College professors have even used this book in their finance classes because of its easy to understand format. So, whether you invest a little or a lot, these biblical principles apply to you. In short, he's made learning about investing as painless as it's going to get.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Getting Debt-Free
Section 2: Saving for Future Needs
Section 3: Investing Your Surplus
Section 4: Diversifying for Safety
Section 5: Retirement Countdown
Section 6: Investing That Glorifies God

... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Sound Mind Investing Review
A very good book for beginning investors that need a crash course in mutual funds, the book's major focus. We will probably use this as a reference in our financial training classes for those that do not have any idea of where to start. The book gives sound, proven principals on how to handle your money, get out of debt, and have enough to invest.

GREAT BOOK!!
This is absolutely the most important financial planning book you will ever read.
I sure wish I would have read this book in my twenties.

I covers about everything that will come at you in your life, budgeting, pay off debt, saving for college, saving for retirement.All topics give advice and a plan to follow.

GREAT BOOK!!

Practical help for getting your financial house in order
This is probably the most practical and thorough book to help you get your financial house in order that I know of. The material seems as sound today as it did 15 or so years ago when I first encountered it, which is another way of saying I don't feel I've outgrown it as I've progressed somewhat in the seasons of life.

dont miss this one everyone should invest...
austin pryor packs this book full of great information and resources. check out his web site.

Excellent Financial Advice
Managing your Money God's way is an incredibly concise and easy to follow guide to financial planning.Great book for beginners as well as advanced.There's something for everyone. ... Read more

Product Description

David McGill has assembled an exhaustive study that uses the musical concepts of the legendary Marcel Tabuteau as a starting point from which to develop musical thought. McGill methodically explains the frequently misunderstood "Tabuteau number system" and its relationship to note grouping-the lifeblood of music. The controversial issue of baroque performance practice is also addressed. Instrumentalists and vocalists alike will find that many of the ideas presented in this book will help develop their musicianship as well as their understanding of what makes a performance "musical."

Customer Reviews (9)

it came recommended
This was recommended to my sister by her retired bassoon professor. He said if he was still teaching he would make this required reading in all his classes.

Deep and practical
Few times you run into a book that combines deep insight, clear exposition and fullness of practical tools, ideas and suggestions. It opens your mind a also your heart. It helps to discover and understand the hidden message occult in a musical score. It becomes alive, transparent. Highly recommendable!

sound in motion
The book was exactly what we wanted at a good price. The delivery was exactly what was stated.

Great Read for All Musicians
Recommended by my clarinet teacher.I have learned much from reading the book, and I feel it has helped improve the way I play. Thru the book I was introduced to the great Marcel Tabateau, and am currently reading another book about this "oboe character."

An excellent book
A very useful, well-written, comprehensive book which comments widely on recent tradition. Moreover, I liked the fact that it emphasizes the connections between wind playing and singing. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explores every aspect of playing with other musicians, including the equipment, hardware, and software used in today's increasingly complex technological world, and the principles of sound every musician needs to know to work at the level of a professional band. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

This book will do more than improve the sound of your band
Let me start by explaining that my band have been regulars at the Hard Rock Cafe for a few years now and as we're always trying to improve what we do, I wanted this book to see if there were any tricks we've been missing. I was also hoping the book might be one I could recommend for the same purpose to the other bands and musicians I work with. On reading it though, I was delighted to realise that Bobby Owsinski actually delivers even more than I was hoping for.

There's a great deal of useful material here for both seasoned pros and those starting out in their first band. Not only will you learn how to improve the overall sound of your band. There are chapters devoted to improving each individual instrument. How to be a better bassist, keyboard player, vocalist or whatever it is you do. The "Defining moments" of each of these chapters are especially enlightening. There's a lot of thought-provoking stuff, whether your aim is to sound great recording - or playing live. If you want to play better gigs you'll even find comprehensive tips around the visual aspects of your performances like "Lighting", help with set-list dynamics and booking gigs out of town.

Highly recommended

Must Have
Great Book. I'm going to get the other books in his series. Really helpful information that comes from experience - and it works! Get it; you won't be sorry!

How to make your bad sound great
This book has very good information and tips to improve the sound and quality of
of your band. I recommend this book especially to new bands, it will save a lot of headaches.

Inspiring practical advice
I have read this book in two days - well written, entertaining, no-nonsense advice for any non-professional band. It can definitely help a band to develop the foundation skills and ideas related to the most important things: productive rehearsals, good sound, individual skills required in the band, principles of band management.

I have been looking for such a book for some time and can definitely recommend this one to anybody who wants to combine enthusiasm for music with some real craftsmanship. ... Read more

Product Description
In this ruthlessly honest bestseller, the bass player for the greatest improvisational band in American history tells the full, true story of his life, Jerry Garcia, and the Grateful Dead. of photos.Amazon.com Review
Right in time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, eccentric bass player extraordinaire Phil Lesh has delivered fans a most welcome gift: his autobiography. There are many books out there about the Dead told from the perspective of roadies, journalists, third party observers, and fans.However, with the exceptions of Jerry Garcia's ramblings in Garcia: A Signpost to New Space and Conversations With the Dead, Lesh's Searching for the Sound is the first time a founding member of America's favorite band tells their own story of what it was like inside the Grateful Dead. And what a wonderful, strange tale it is.

Phil Lesh, considered the most academic of the group due to his avant-garde classical composition training, literate mind, and passion for the arts, decided to write his story himself. Written without the crutch of a ghostwriter, Searching for the Sound might be considered disjointed in places, but overall it comes across as conversational, intimate, informative, and candid (particularly regarding topics of drug use and death). If you are familiar with the band and their extended family, their history, the sixties' musical milestones and influences and all the band's famous tales (the Garcia/ Lesh "silent" confrontation, being busted on Bourbon Street, the Wall of Sound), you may be a little disgruntled there is not much new here in the way of content. However, what is "new" and totally satisfying is Phil's warm, optimistic perspective on the many events that helped shape his life. As described by Lesh, his life's journey, much like the Dead's music, is "a [series] of recurring themes, transpositions, repetitions, unexpected developments, all converging to define form that is not necessarily apparent until it's ending has come and gone." For the many fans who enjoyed the fruits of his life pursuit of sonic explorations,Searching for the Sound isa welcome addition to their Dead library. --Rob Bracco ... Read more

Customer Reviews (64)

Love Phil, of course, still waiting for women playin in the band
I'm using my daughter's account.Unlike her, I'm pretty old now, only 6 years younger than Bobby, so the GD and derivatives have been the soundtrack of/behind my entire life.

But I'm female. I needed Gracie and Janis in my early days with their uncompromising ways out there furthur even then, so much more than I ever did the GD -- let alone the poetry and sheer beauty of Joan, Joni, Judy, Odessa, Mary, et al.I've needed all of those women and their daughters for my own purposes in life so much that only now, here 40 years later, can I turn back to the GD and especially furthur to notice what I missed along the way.

They didn't mean to leave us out.No-one who was formed in those transition times ever did.It just didn't occur to them and still hasn't that we've been alongside them all along, as such untapped musical resources.How odd that these so critical persons who inadvertently contributed so much in general to the freedom we women are still exploring now, have STILL never noticed WHAT we specifically are and can be, over this past 40 years.It makes me laugh and cry; but gratefully (hehe), I'm too old now to fuss much about it.

I so enjoyed hearing Phil read his story via audible, whispering into my similarly destroyed hearing from years of too much loud rock and roll.He's been one of my lifetime older brothers, older cousin, my friend.He and the GD have subtly, importantly guided my entire life -- without me ever paying attention to them either!

I'm having SO MUCH FUN going to these furthur concerts, listening to Phil's book, accessing my brother-in-law's 300 GD concert tapes.:)Don't know yet what it means to be circling around to this again at the end of my times, but I did lose the thread of the fun of things a few years ago.So good to be gifted with that again.I can tell there's more to come.

Thanks, Phil.And thanks for hooking up with Bobby again and pulling in these new guys.It's so fresh.You've been getting stronger and wilder every time I see you.Can't wait for Red Rocks.

Val

Like a Show: Wonderful, Fascinating, and Far From Perfect
Dead books vary in focus and quality, from Blair Jackson's detailed and loving examination to Rock Scully's frequently-fun but always lurid (and occasionally dubious) HST pastiche. As the only version of the tale told by a founding member, Phil's Searching for the Sound is unmissable...if incomplete at times.

As with his music, Lesh gives his best; a familiar song, finding new life through an honest and unpredictable performance. Intellectual precision, spiritual exploration, and plain old fun are here in abundance, and he doesn't avoid the tricky bits, either....but in music, as in everything, you may see the shape more clearly through the parts that are left out.

One thing that struck me was Phil's willingness to rise to the daunting challenge of relating the near-ineffable details of a trip; I've never read a more accurate and evocative description (not even from Huxley or Dr. Thompson). Well done!

Likewise, his awareness of the fans is unmatched. While rock star autobiographies usually limit audience participation to sales statistics (or particularly memorable groupie-groping incidents), Phil more than acknowledges the role of the Heads as the vast, essential Other Band Member.

Just as I'm thinking "looks like Phil's not going to get personal", he examines his relationships with his father, with his wife and children, with fellow band members and Family. He refuses to either shy away from or dwell upon his own demons (he's merciless and yet matter-of-fact about his own drinking problems), while giving others as much credit or space as possible.

Understandably, he is firmly focused upon the music, and he's at his best when he indulges his true calling. Whether it's an unexpectedly-detailed aside about Modulus Graphite or an insight into the genesis of a song, the reader will get choice nuggets that make the ride completely and uniquely worthwhile. While I'm sometimes disappointed that he doesn't go into more depth, I understand that talking too much about the nuts and bolts of artistic creation can often spoil the delicate balance of its beauty.

Sometimes it all comes together in a brief but memorable passage, like anecdotes about driving to the next show or stopping at a remote diner along the way. In both brief scenes we get an evocative taste of the connections between a beloved musician, his family, and the fans. No other band has this alchemy, and no other participant could tell the story like this.

Though the quality of the writing is consistently admirable, the pace can be uneven and gaps in the narrative are obvious to those that know the story from other angles. Yeah, it ain't the best book you'll ever read, and it's probably not even the most satisfying Book of the Dead...but Searching for the Sound is still something special, more than just "a must-read for fans".

Can't beat it!
The book came quickly and is in great shape.No book jacket, but I don't mind. For the price and ease of online ordering, this was a great experience.

Great insight and behind the scenes details
After 25 years of being a Deadhead, I still love finding out interesting details about the band's history. Phil's book is really well written and gives the unique perspective of a band member. I enjoyed Rock Scully's book but it only covers 20 years and Rock wasn't even in the band. Phil's book covers almost 40 years and gives interesting insight that could only come from within. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves the Grateful Dead.

I'm seeing Phil with Furthur and have a whole new appreciation for him now. Feel free to email me at billandlupe@q.com to share your thoughts about the book, Phil or the Dead.

the best!
Behind the scenes, candid, entertaining, forthright... a real learning experience, and a good ride...historically significant, and more...xofD ... Read more

Product Description

Sound for Film and Television, Third Edition provides a thorough introduction to the fascinating field of recording, editing, mixing, and exhibiting film and television sound. It strikes a fine balance between aesthetic and technical content, combining theory and practice to approach sound as both an art and a science. This new edition has been completely updated to reflect the latest advances in HD technology, new hardware and software systems, new distribution methods, wireless sound capture, and more. Also, analog-related content has been reduced and transferred to the chapters covering historical techniques. Sections on troubleshooting and FAQs have been added to help you avoid common pitfalls in sound production.

Customer Reviews (6)

Sound Makes or Breaks your film or TV show
If you're a student of film or if you're a home movie maker, you really owe it to yourself to pick up this book and read it.Very quickly you come to realize that making a movie or tv show or good home movie is about:

- Light
- Sound
- Makeup
- Editing
- Camera
- Script

Mess any one of these things up and you wind up with a suboptimal product.

This book is very comprehensive on the sound aspect.It covers a whole lot more than what a home movie maker like me needs but it's certainly comprehensive enough for a student of film who is getting into the field.

If you make movies, get this book and study it.Never underestimate soound.

Great college textbook for students seeking a career in sound for film and television!

This was not really my kind of book. It had the feel of a college textbook, and the material included was as dense and boring as any college textbook I have ever read. The pages were big, the print was small, and the page formatting was double column. There were pictures included the same way as in a typical college textbook. The author teaches a class or classes in California at the college level. And it is my understanding he uses this book as the course textbook.

I'm not in college any longer, and I haven't been there for some time. My reading preferences tend to weigh in positively with informative books that do not get too technical, but provide a lot of information and make good points. This book does not make many points at all. It is very technical. And quite frankly it does not provide much information that I could really use. Accordingly, I could not give it a 5-star rating.

Having said all that, I found the book to be a good college textbook. If the student is working toward an entry-level position in the motion picture industry as a sound techie, then this book is probably a must-read. It covers a lot of material. It is quite dense in the material it provides. And the student if she digests and assimilates the information in this book will probably be able to fit into a production company or consulting firm that help to make sound in film and television great.

Early in the book the author told me to read the chapters in the following order: 4, 8, 5-7, and 9-13. I took his advice and never went back to chapters 1-3. But I had already read the preface and the introduction. If you want to learn about much of the ins and outs of sound, microphones, and mixing sound recordings, or editing sound recordings so you can be the ultimate professional at what you do, then I highly recommend this book to you. But if you just want to know about sound regarding your camcorder projects and how to make it good or better, then this book might be a bit much for you. I did not see a way to translate what I read here into making better sound for my home videos. 4 stars!

A concise professional level overview of sound recording and design for motion pictures
"Sound for Film and Television" presents a concise and well rounded overview of the many issues, technologies and creative concerns involved in the recording, mixing, design and presentation of sound in motion pictures. The wide range, multi channel sound fields typical of modern films require an in depth understanding of sound design requirements, aesthetic concerns and the "reality" that many sounds imply and require. The sound of a truck, in the distance, for example, must not only be "distant" but suggest the ambience of "what distance", "where" and what sort of sound field that distance occurs in. Music, dialog and effects must all be considered as distinct elements. The modern sound mixer/designer is truly a "conductor" of a refined and precisely selected, crafted and presented sonic orchestra.

"Sound for Film and Television" gives good, professional level summaries of these concerns, and cites and includes many examples from well known films that are considered hallmarks of sound design and development. RECOMMENDED.

May Prove a Valuable Reference to Some ... Others, A Trip in a Time-Machine
Mostly written in the first-person plural, this technical text has an oddly informal approach. Likewise, the strange use of slang had me a little confused. For example, "bit-slinging"? Having never heard this expression, I took a break from the obligatory charts/grids and read this entry. Apparently, the author dubbed editing-room assistants "bit slingers" because they remind him of "gunslingers" from "cowboy movies." Hmm. Odd choice.

Moreover, while some of the images are helpful (like how lighting can expose the cabling on a body microphone), many have a 1970s appearance. Maybe a more modern approach to capturing these images would have helped. And, sure, I know the purpose of this text is to teach/inform ... but a "good-looking" book never hurts. (Especially when I have students who'd prefer not to read at all).

Still, for all its drabness, awkwardness, and "coined" terms, the text contains information that could help a person who is new to this field. So, while I'm not a fan, I can see how some may benefit it.

A Bible for Sound
I have all three of Holman's books: this one, Sound for DV, and Surround Sound. What I like about the books is their friendly style, their explanations of how to do things, and their being grounded in actual practice. Hence, this book has lots of examples from film and television.

For me, and perhaps for others, sound is not easy. There are lots of technical features you need to know, lots of ways of making errors, and a wide variety of equipment at a wide range of prices. (It's not like photography, where a point-and-shoot digital camera will do a good job. There's really no such "point-and-shoot" recorder/microphone that does a close to first rate job.) Holman holds your hands, and leads you to do a better job, explains along the way, and tells wonderful stories as well.

The book is not "easy," because the materials are not easy. But, if you want to master sound for film and television, you need this book, at least. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Sound Operator's Handbook is written to specifically address the concerns and needs of sound operators of all types. High-quality audio is imperative, whether you're running sound for a rock, country, punk, or jazz band performing in clubs, arenas, or outdoor parks. With the advent and implementation of large-budget multimedia presentations, high-resolution multichannel audio for movies, television, and downloads, any live act must sound great to be well received by today's increasingly savvy audience members. This comprehensive handbook focuses on each aspect of live sound in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand, breaking the process down into principles and practices that assist the modern sound tech in everything from planning and budgeting to mixing and recording the live show. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Bill Gibson
This is the first Bill Gibson book I purchased.The book satisfied a real need to "fill the gaps" in my quest to become a better sound technician.Being a volunteer "sound guy" at church, doing live performance, is a real challenge as I have no formal classroom training as a sound tech.I enjoyed this book so much I gave it to a friend, and purchased another copy for myself. If you want to know more of what you do as a volunteer sound tech., this is the book for you.Bill does an excellent job of providing clear, not overly technical reasons, as to why things happen and how to prevent major disasters.....feedback come to mind? Keep the book handy!

Extremelly GOOD
This is a very good book for those out there that love Music like me.
Thanks amazons for this recommendation.

More of a College class book.
It was a good book in terms of information.Anything you need in an instruction manual you got here.I wish it would've got more into the back souund and things and how to setup different venues.It was rather vague in those areas.DVD does a good job explaining things.

A good tool for training
This is a good book. Like the man says, it's for operators, not engineers, and there's a meaningful difference between the two. When I train my team, this will be part of my training tools; it doesn't substitute for hands-on time with the sound system, and it doesn't substitute for hands-on time with an experienced sound guy.

I recommend to my trainees that they pick up a copy of this book and leave it on their toilet tank, where they read a few pages every day, and think about how to make use of what they just learned when they're working with the system.

For the record, Bill's methods for running sound aren't 100% in line with mine (I've been doing this for 30 years), but they are trustworthy, they are likely to be effective, and they're presented in a way that makes sense for wannabe sound operators and techs. Good job, Bill!

The "Qualifications" and "Duties" sections alone are worth the price of the book. It's good material, presented well, and while it won't substitute for hands-on experience, it's very useful.

same problems as church sound version
Nearly all of the content of this book is a verbatim copy of the same author's The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook (Hal Leonard Music Pro Guides), and contains the same errors, omissions, and contradictions that the informed reviewers have noted in their critical reviews of the church version.In short, the book promulgates a host of audio misconceptions, ranging from the common to the bizarre, each of which leads directly to bad sonic results, unsafe conditions, wasted money on bad equipment buying decisions, embarrassment, and a prolonged learning curve over that which would be required if the reader chose her or his reading more carefully.There is simply no reason for the consumer to waste money and time by learning audio wrong, and then having to relearn it correctly, when there are many far superior books on the market.

For those who are interested, the similarities between the "live" and "church" versions of the book are as follows:

Chapter 1 and 2 are the same in both versions with only slight changes in terminology and a few additions in the church version.
Chapter 3 of the secular version is the same as chapter 6 of the church version (Volume Issues).
Chapter 4 of the secular version is the same as chapter 8 of the church version (Sound Theory).
Chapter 5 through 18 of the secular book are equivalent to chapters 9 through 22 of the church book (almost word for word the same).

Folks who desire to learn audio from reliable sources should consider Davis's The Sound Reinforcement Handbook, and/or Stark's Live Sound Reinforcement, Bestseller Edition (Hardcover & DVD).Other beneficial resources include Everest's Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals, Eargle's Music, Sound, and Technology, and for the definitive reference, Ballou's Handbook for Sound Engineers, Third Edition.For what it's worth, a fourth edition of the latter book is rumored to be on the way by the end of the year.Suffice it to say that audio is a technical subject, albeit one that suffers from a disproportionate amount of uninformed commentary from self-styled "experts."If the sound of your concert, church service, or other event matters to you, or if you plan to make a living providing sound reinforcement services, then it pays to be careful who you listen to, and what you read, about the fundamentals of audio. ... Read more

Product Description
At long last, the secrets of David Garibaldi's groundbreaking funk/jazz fusion drumming techniques are presented in this innovative book and CD. Whether you play rock, heavy metal, jazz or funk, you'll learn how to incorporate Garibaldi's contemporary "linear" styles and musical concepts into your playing as you develop your own unique drumset vocabulary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Collateral Benefits Abound
Beyond the stated and obvious benefits of studying the exercises from this book, there are collateral benefits as well. I have found three weeks into faithfully practicing these exercises, that my time feel has gotten cemented. I have always had good time but my pocket has gotten so much deeper since beginning to practice from Future Sounds. Logically it makes sense because we are practicing sixteenth note subdivisions with changing accents and feels on both hands and feet. The aim of course, is to feel these subdivisions and to make these rhythms groove. By so doing, my feel has become so much more natural to the point of getting comments from the audience about the pocket I've been setting. I've worked out of various books which are meant to improve the drummer's time concepts but none have done me as much good as working from this book. To have great time, you've got to get the whole idea out of your head and into your hands. Great time is felt! You have to feel it to make it happen. These exercises really help. Also, applying the principles from the George Stone Stick Control book help you to play these rhythms so much better. My overall "flow" when playing with the band has been enhanced greatly as a result of practicing Future Sounds exercises. If the book promised nothing more than the things I've already mentioned, it would be worth the price of admission. Of course, these are the things that AREN'T mentioned in the ads for Future Sounds. Suffice it to say that practiced regularly and with commitment, Future Sounds delivers on its' promises and then some. Recommended for intermediate to advanced players and to all drummers, especially those who want to get in on David Garibaldi's "secrets" of funk drumming.

great stuff
This is a great book that teaches skills that can be applied to many other drum books.David teaches how to develop permutations of a groove.It you have a drum groove with eight notes, if you shift the notes to the right once, you have a new groove called a permutation of the main groove.If there are eight notes in one groove, you can potentially create eight permutations of the original groove by shifting all the notes on the snare and bass drum to the right once.When you have done this eight times you are back at the original groove.So if you have fifty eight note grooves, you can create four hundred permutations.You can take a book like stick control and create thousands of permutations.The results of playing all these different combinations is a greater vocabulary on the drum set.To be a monster and versatile, you need to practice as many permutations as you can figure out.David has shown us how to create permutations.Lets say you wanted to create sixteenth note permutations.Instead of shifting eight times, you would have to shift sixteen times to come back to the original.So, fifty original grooves multiplied by sixteen permutations for each groove equals eight hundred permutations all together.This concept is infinite and can be applied to any drum book other than "Future Sounds" that you will potentially own in a life time.Great stuff.I hope this has been of benefit to you.Good luck God speed in your development.

Partially satisfied
The product is excellent/extremey informative and I'm totally satisfied with the information, packaging, and the price. However, the manner in which you advertise "free shipping" and delivery times for a lot of your products is very misleading and deceptive. On the two products I ordered it was supposed to be free shipping and I paid shipping anyway; and the time received was about 10 days rather than 5-6. This is the main reason I don't buy a lot of my books through amazon. I go to the local store, pay a little more, but I buy with confidence and know what is what when going in. No surprises.

Great intro to new technique/style
This book is really great if you're curious about linear and new orleans style funk, and want to find out what it's all about. The exercises and techniques at the start of the book wont overload you so that you lose your interest, but they get progressively harder to ease you in.

Great for building up independance and thinking a bit differently about how you look at the kit, and even better for leading up to David's other book, Code of Funk, which puts the exercises into song context. There's loads of groove exercises and random ideas for you to build on and David explains all his concepts really well.

I'd say its best if you're already an intermediate drummer before getting this book.

The Funk Drummer's Bible
This book is the reason why my funk drumming is where it's at today. It's a very difficult book to master, but the beauty of this book is, it's a complete step-by-step process. What you do is practice all the exercises with a metronome between 60-80 beats per minutes. Once you feel comfortable with the current excercise, you pick up the tempo just a little bit, then you move on to the next exercise. Before you know it, you're playing the techniques with more intent and conviction and it becomes a natural part of your playing. This approach to drumming is completely unorthodox to what you're probably used to. But once you've done this for a while, it becomes second nature and it becomes part of your drumming vocabulary. Get this book, work through it, and become the funk drummer that your drumming potential will allow you to become. You will not regret it! ... Read more

Product Description

A mother knows when something is wrong with her child. If the problem is physical, she takes the child to a doctor. But if the problem is a misunderstanding of her child's mind, where does she turn for help?

This is Ben's story.

He was a happy, healthy boy -- a mother's dream come true. Yet by the age of three, Ben's development was significantly delayed: He couldn't make sense of the simplest phrases, and he still hadn't started talking. When Karen Foli finally took her son, Ben, to a speech and hearing clinic, she was told that he was "probably retarded and perhaps autistic." But Karen knew that Ben was highly perceptive, even frustrated by his inability to communicate. Trusting her "mother's intuition," Karen set out on a journey to learn the truth about her son's condition....and what she found was APD.

A person with auditory processing disorder receives jumbled and distorted sounds.But the ability to hear is usually normal. Even though it affects millions of Americans, APD can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Through years of research, and personal interviews, Karen Foli learned everything she needed to know about APD in order to help her son achieve the greatest gift of all: communication. Like Sound Through Water is her story -- winning, inspiring, and true. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Honest and lovely
There are some judgements going around in some of these reviews.Can we stop judging each other, and just accept each other (mothers).I thought this book was lovely and honest. I appreciate the mother bear that Karen was to find out what was going on with Ben.Ben seems like a sweet and loveable boy.This mother had some dedication to work with her son relentlessly hours a day.Of course most moms would do this for their kids, but there are some that don't.I appreciate the fact that Karen was honest about her feelings and shared her journey through APD with Ben.It has helped me alot!!!

Excellent Portrayal
I personally found this book to be very helpful in terms of the information provided about APD as well as information on products that could be helpful for treatment of the condition. For me personally it was a very therapeutic journey because being a mother of a child with APD, I was able to identify with practically all of the experiences detailed by the author. Definately a must for parents or anyone who has a child with APD close to them.

Wow!
This is a kind of book that you cannot put down. You can't wait to see what happen next or what Karen and Ben experience together. It is a well written true story. I have gained a lot of informations and understanding of what APD is in an EASY and ENTERTAINING way. There's no difficult medical term, just daily experiences/routines that help me understand APD. It's a good read, really!! A box of tissue nearby would be helpful!

Great readbut probably not typical APD case?
I thought this book was a great read - I read it non-stop to the end.If the author were to write a second book updating her son's story, I would definitely read it.This is a compelling book for any parent not just those whose children have APD.

In fact, I'm not sure that her son's APD is particularly typical.Her son clearly demonstrated language problems from the outset, whereas I believe many APD cases are quite subtle.So, like the other reviewers, I would say don't read this as a textbook for APD, but more as an interesting story of how one familydealt with their son's challenges.

An Insightful Book
The book was insightful, easy to read.I couldn't put it down.The book is written from the family's perspective as their child is identified with a disorder. It relates the family's stuggles forcorrect diagnosis, treatment and support.A must read for early childhood specialists who assess and work with young children with special needs. ... Read more

Product Description
Handbook for Sound Engineers is the most comprehensive reference available for audio engineers. All audio topics are explored: if you work on anything related to audio you should not be without this book! The 4th edition of this trusted reference has been updated to reflect changes in the industry since the publication of the 3rd edition in 2002 -- including new technologies like software-based recording systems such as Pro Tools and Sound Forge; digital recording using MP3, wave files and others; mobile audio devices such as iPods and MP3 players.

Over 40 topics are covered and written by many of the top professionals for their area in the field, including Glen Ballou on interpretation systems, intercoms, assistive listening, and image projection; Ken Pohlmann on compact discs and DVDs; David Miles Huber on MIDI; Dr. Eugene Patronis on amplifier design and outdoor sound systems; Bill Whitlock on audio transformers and preamplifiers; Pat Brown on fundamentals and gain structures; Ray Rayburn on virtual systems and digital interfacing; and Dr. Wolfgang Ahnert on computer-aided sound system design and acoustics for concert halls.

* Condenses years of information and technology into one source
* Contributors are the leading experts in their fields
* Reflects current practice covering all the fundamental aspects of sound engineering ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a Must have book
very good book, a must have for all the people involved in the audio scene. ... Read more

Product Description

Sleep Sound in Jesus,a bestselling collection (more than 165,000 copies sold) of lullabies anddevotions by award–winning singer and songwriter Michael Card is now availablein a new size, ready to please another generation of babies and their parents. Thisfull–color children’s picture book is filled with tender illustrations byCatherine McLaughlin alongside encouraging meditations for parents and thelullaby lyrics from Michael’s popular CD of the same title. Each offeringprovides a glimpse of God’s love: He’llWipe Away Your Tears, Even theDarkness Is Light to Him, Hold MeGently, and others. This gift will be cherished by parents, parents–to–be, andgrandparents as bedtime becomes a time to share Jesus with their sweet littleones.

Customer Reviews (7)

Beautiful book!
We played the tape with these lullabies for our baby when she was born 18 years ago.Now we give the book and CD to many couples having a baby.The lullabies are just as relevant and beautiful now as they were 18 years ago.

Excellent Baby Gift
We give this book along with the accompanying CD to couples having their 1st child.It is an awesome CD that our kids enjoyed for many years falling asleep to and they loved having us read them the book.It's a gift that others will enjoy for many years.

Sleep Sound In Jesus
I was under the impression it was a Lullaby Cd...not a book.Oh well.

Should Purchase with the Audio CD...
This is a great book for children who are going to be raised with religion.I am glad that I purchased it with the CD!I am especially fond of the last lullaby, although rather adult in nature.It is a lullaby for aborted babies.It is a lullaby to never be sung, so it does NOT appear on the CD.

The best way to fall asleep!
My children first experienced the peace of falling asleep to this book and tape set. Now years later , my grandchildren are doing the same. This is an excellent way to introduce the real character of Jesus to our little ones.This set helps you to take time in this "hurried" world to stop,take a breath and relax with your child. It is the "traditional"gift set for any new addition to our family,it is that life-changing! ... Read more

Product Description
This nuts-and-bolts guide to sound design for animated films explains audio software, free downloads, how sound works, the power of sound when wielded by an animation filmmaker, and provides varieties of examples for how to use sound to enliven your films with professional sound.

Sound-savvy animators save precious resources (time and money) by using sound for effects they don't necessarily have time to create.For example, the sound of a crow flying gives viewers a sense of the crow without the crow.Where there's a macabre element or scene in an animated film, this book explains why you should choose a low frequency sound for it-low frequencies are scary, because the ear can't decipher their origin or direction!

On the DVD: three 5-minute animations; sample sound clips, jump cuts and video streams; plus motion graphics with which to practice sound-applications explained in this book.

** The animation sound design techniques discussed in the book are based on those used by today's newest and brightest animation filmmakers
* The book's case examples give readers extra tips and tricks to apply to their own sound design
*The book's DVD is highly instructional, includes sound clips to be practiced with ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great textbook and DVD, with wonderful case studies
Disclosure: The author is a colleague of mine, though in a different department. This review is unsolicited.

As a professor of Motion Media Design, I have long sought a textbook that introduced the fundamentals of sound design in a way that was both thorough and free of jargon.
Beauchamp's text is such a book. Through the use of judicious case studies the author writes engaging chapters that highlight topics as wide ranging as character development through sound design, continuity and time perception, metaphoric sound and off-screen sound. Also valuable are some very practical chapters on arts law (licensing and copywriting), signal path and signal processing. A huge asset to the learning process is the DVD that includes animation case studies, each with various mixes and options for sound, and an array of supplemental instructional materials. These qualities combined make this book a great text for students of sound design, film, motion graphics and anyone interested in solidifying their understanding of sound design.

Nice shootin' Tex!
I could make out every sound clearly. This is a great DIY book on soundtrack production with excellent examples from the author on the accompanying DVD. It answered just about every question I've ever had about creating soundtracks for stopmotion films. Well written and illustrated.

Great Introductory book to sound design
This is a very well written introduction to sound design for film. And while the book focuses on animation, it is also very relevant for traditional narrative film. The author has a real talent for getting to the basic essence of things. A very practical book! ... Read more

Product Description
He had a number one hit at eighteen. He was a millionaire with his own record label at twenty-two. He was, according to Tom Wolfe, “the first tycoon of teen.”Phil Spector owned pop music. From the Crystals, the Ronettes (whose lead singer, Ronnie, would become his second wife), and the Righteous Brothers to the Beatles (together and singly) and finally the seventies punk icons The Ramones, Spector produced hit after hit. But then he became pop music's most famous recluse. Until one day in the spring of 2007, when his name hit the tabloids, connected to a horrible crime. In Tearing Down the Wall of Sound, Mick Brown, who was the last journalist to interview Spector before his arrest, tells the full story of the troubled musical genius. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Fascinating ... Great narration, too.
I bought the audible version of Mick Brown's book. The narrator chosen for an audio version of a book (whether it's the author or someone else) can often make the most interesting book seem dull. A good narrator can often make a dull book seem interesting. The best of both worlds is to have a very interesting book read by a good narrator (for the audio version),

Fortunately, the audio very version of "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound" contains the best of both worlds. The content of this book is very fascinating, and the narrator, Ray Porter, did a masterful job as the narrator. Even though it's a long book, the author left me wanting to read more. I hope a another addition covering the outcome of Phil Spector's two trials will be forthcoming.

One criticism, though. The author needs to be careful about quoting other sources - autobiographies - that were not written or even read by the alleged author, e.g., Brian Wilson's "autobiography". At a minimum, Mick Brown should offer a caveat before quoting such sources (some of the content of such sources may still be true even though the authorship is in question).

Still, I easily give "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound" five stars.

Excellent biography of a tragic figure
Phil Spector is easily one of the best producers in the history of rock and pop. His meteoric rise to stardom in the New York Music scene in the early 60s was legendary as was his work with the Crystals, the Ronettes, John Lennon and George Harrison.Unfortunately, his personal life was as disastrous as his professional life was stellar.This book dispassionately chronicles Spector's life from a child who endured his father's suicide to the accusations of murder which he eventually succumbed to. A sad, tragic story of yet another individual who seemed to have the world but really couldn't stop the demons from consuming him.....

Portrait of a Troubled Man
Phil Spector will probably spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, but that doesn't make him any less of an influential and luminary figure in the history of pop music. "Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector" is exactly that - a very detailed book about Spector's spectacular rise, decline, and eventual self-imposed exile on the very fringes of the Hollywood music establishment culminating in the murder of Lana Clarkson in 2003. This book not only spans Spector's life and career as a producer and a musician, but it also dives deeply into his personal life and relationships in an attempt to paint an unbiased portrait of the man. What ultimately comes out is a portrait of a very troubled, insecure soul with a napoleon complex and a constant need to prove himself at the expense of others.

This book doesn't end where Spector's life has ended up. And that is probably its biggest flaw of all, but one has to wonder if the Spector story is truly over for good. That this is the almost anticlimactic end of the "first tycoon of teen" and the genius who brought us the Wall of Sound.

One can only wonder at this point.

Now we know.
Before reading this book, I had no idea which version of the Lana Clarkson story to believe:Did Phil Spector kill her, or did she commit suicide?After reading it, there is little doubt.

Brown does an excellent job of tracing Spector's life, and of giving us a glimpse of the recording industry in the golden age of rock and roll.But his signal achievement -- and I would guess, the primary purpose of the book -- is to establish a clear pattern of behavior over a several-decade period.Brown has documented so many examples of Spector's bizarre habit over the years of locking people inside his house when they expressed a desire to leave, and threatening them with firearms, that an eventual tragic ending seemed inevitable.(Indeed, one wonders why it didn't happen sooner.)Further, the idea that a young woman who displayed no evidence of depression, let alone suicidal ideation, would enter the house of a man she had met for the first time, and kill herself in the entryway as he stood directly in front of her (as evidenced by the blood spray on his coat), with that man's gun, is preposterous on its face.

Phil Spector is of course a tragic figure, the classic self-isolating genius; a man so afraid of being alone that he forcibly prevented guests from leaving his home, but so afraid of interpersonal relationships that he could not allow anyone to get close enough to help him find enduring relief from his mental illness or his alcoholism, despite an army of psychiatrists and a polypharmacy of psychoactive medications. Perhaps now, within the California correctional system, he will finally find the help he needs.It's just a shame that an innocent young woman had to die in the process.

Compelling bio of a complex man
Tearing Down The Wall Of Sound is a balanced presentation of the Phil Spector story.He was a very complicated man who, at the age of nine years old, was traumatized by his father's suicide.Spector idolized his father and spent the rest of his life engaged in conflicts with those closest to him (his mother, sister, wives, etc.).He was a brilliant musician who treated his session players with respect.However, he treated all of his singers as disposable chattel as he was obsessed with his fame and stature in the pop music scene and did not want them to get the primary credit for his hit records.This book presents both sides of this complex individual; the hard detailed work he put into his revolutionary productions, his musical genius, and his ability to push the musical envelope.On the other hand, his callous treatment of most people he was involved with is detailed as well.Brown presents Spector as a bi-polar user of most of the people he personally knew.He did, however, lionize Lenny Bruce and John Lennon and treated them (and their legacy) with the utmost respect.The book makes an interesting point regarding his musical legacy.Most people regard "River Deep, Mountain High" as the pinnacle of his career.However, the author makes a convincing point that his greatest achievement is "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".Like most biographies of 1960's musical legends who peaked early, his story gets tedious from around the mid-1970's onwards as he spirals downward and deeper into a morass of unchecked mental illness.Brown gives numerous accounts of incidences where he threatened to kill various women.The book ends before his second murder trial.This is a very compelling account of a conflicted, unhappy musical genius.Here's hoping that Spector gets the proper psychological treatment he so obviously requires while spending the rest of his life in prison. ... Read more