Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America

Star: How Warren Beatty Seduced America
By Peter Biskind


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


As I began reading Biskind’s book, I realized this was a period of time I lived through (the 1960's and 1970's) and thoroughly enjoyed.  What is absolutely terrific about Biskind’s approach to Beatty is that he consistently and neatly ties situations to what was going on in Hollywood, the nation, and the world at the time.  Thus, it is easy for readers to orient themselves as Biskind moves the story about Beatty’s life forward.


I was never a fan of Warren Beatty, but just as I follow other Hollywood stars (lightly and with a sense of humor), I followed his career because he was constantly in the news, and not only that, I enjoyed going to the movies.  Also, I think the whole creative art of making movies held some fascination as well, and this is truly a book about how Hollywood movies are made.


I have to confess: I was fascinated with this book.  Why?  First, Biskind is a terrific writer.  The content is well-organized, engaging, and examples and stories are numerous.  Second, I am amazed at Biskind’s information and where he went to get his material.  Yes, it is a big book: 627 pages!  The index is 26 pages in length.  There are 45 pages of notes—552 of them in all!  His sources are outstanding.  Third, Biskind tells a compelling story.  He doesn’t take sides; he simply tells it like it was and you come away with a picture of Beatty as an intelligent, manipulative, shrewd, sexual, innovative, creative, perfectionistic, and complex person.  What a fascinating portrayal.


Do you get a picture of his sexual prowess?  Definitely!  Not all the intimate details, but you definitely get the picture.  Here, Biskind describes the situation: “Beatty used to say that he couldn’t get to sleep at night without having sex.  It was part of his routine, like flossing.  This was who he was.  As the evening progressed, he would disappear with his little black book, looking for a phone.  Simple arithmetic tells us that if he had no more than one partner a night — and often there were several — over a period of, say, three and a half decades, from the mid-1950s, when he arrived in New York, to 1991, when he met Annette Bening, and allowing for the stretches when he was with the same woman, more or less, we can arrive at a figure of 12,775 women, give or take, a figure that does not include daytime quickies, drive-by blowjobs, casual gropings, stolen kisses, and so on” (p. 160). . . . He begins the very next paragraph saying, “There were so many women that it’s hard to characterize his sexual preferences by how he behaved with any particular one.  Different women served different purposes” (p. 160).


You shouldn’t read this book for all the titilating details of his sexual nature, for you will be disappointed.  Whether you are a Beatty fan or not, here is so much more here to absorb, ponder, and enjoy.  It is truly a good read and sheds so much light on the Hollywood film-making process and the professional film-making of Warren Beatty

This book is available at Amazon.com: Star: How Warren Beatty seduced America

The Shark and the Goldfish: Positive ways to thrive during waves of change

The Shark and the Goldfish: Positive ways to thrive during waves of change
By Jon Gordon


Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


Oh no, not another business-related parable!  The author writes “A Confession” on page ix: “I recognize the fact that in real life goldfish cannot survive in the ocean’s saltwater—and that fish really can’t talk, either. [He inserts a smiley emoticon here!] This is an imaginary story meant to convey an important message.  After all,” Gordon writes, “Mickey Mouse, Shrek, Nemo, and Superman are invented characters as well.”  I’m very pleased he pointed this out for like my belief in Santa Clause and the Easter bunny, I had always believed that Mickey Mouse, Shrek, Nemo, and Superman were real!  Darn him!!


There are 78 pages in this little ( 5" x 7") book, and close to 30 of them are devoted to illustrations, thus, this is a book of just about 50 pages.  If you have a couple of hours to spare, this is a “fun” book to read, and you’ll still have time left over for other things.


The four principles for thriving during change include: 1) Embrace the wave of change, 2) ride the wave of change, 3) stay positive during change, and 4) thrive because of change.  At the end of the book, Gorden challenges readers in each category by asking questions that he labels, “Food for Thought,” designed as “Individual/Small Group/Team Discussion Questions.”


Although the book is well-written, the story “cute,” and the principles simple, I’m not certain that Gordon offers enough that is new, challenging, or innovative that can’t be found in more substantive books that are well-researched, evidence-based, and experience-proven.


Don Snyder, "The Idea Guy," from Columbus, Ohio, writes in his review of the book at Amazon.com:  “Phenomenal book!  I'm a little hesitant of the "business fable" books (never really understood the hullabaloo regarding "Who Moved My Cheese") but The Shark and The Goldfish is on my personal list of favorite books of the year. There's nothing outrageously original about the message, but isn't that true of all universal messages? The story was engaging and the important themes weren't lost in the fable. Buy copies of this book for your entire team -- they should sell them in groups (Groupers?) so you can gift them to your entire "school" of Goldfish friends!”


Monty Rainey, from New Braunfels, Texas, ends his review at Amazon.com, with these two paragraphs: “I'm looking forward to introducing this story at my next meeting. There are some great training tools here on positive ways to not only face change (in an ever changing world) but how to come out on top of change and make that change work to your benefit.


“If you're looking for a quick and easy read that will change focus and outlook, this is it. I have several employees who all but refuse to read. This one can easily be digested in about an hour, so it perfect for non-readers to get them on the right track and create a positive change for them.”


I think it is a great book for non-readers.

This book is available at Amazon.com: The Shark and the Goldfish: Positive ways to thrive during waves of change

Thank you for firing me: How to catch the next wave of success after you lose your job

by Kitty Martini and Candice Reed

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

You need to accept this book on two levels: First, it is an entertaining, fun read.  Second, it is crammed full of interesting, sometimes unusual, ideas designed to spark your imagination and creativity.

I found the book truly fascinating, engaging, and, yes, entertaining.  Remember that Kitty Martini “is a prolific writer, entrepreneur, stand-up comedian, and expert on being fired,” according to the back of the book.  How did the book become so entertaining?  She’s a comedian!!!!!  Candice Reed’s compliment to Kitty reads like this: “Without Kitty and her unique attitude and approach to life this book may never have been born.  Her dry wit and crazy stories are greatly appreciated and well suited to a writer such as myself. . .” (p. vi).

I like the layout of this book.  There are 15 ten-to-twelve page chapters that all begin with a slightly humorous quotations.  The sections within chapters are brief, there are numerous bullet-pointed comments, suggestions, and ideas, additional gray boxes are interspersed throughout chapters that carry “Consider This” ideas (stories, examples, illustrations, research findings, and interesting tidbits), there are a plethora of examples, numerous italicized quotations break up the content, and the additional resources are outstanding.  Overall, it reads well.

The reviewers, for the most part, also like the book.  For example, Caroline Yarnall, of Eastsound, Washington, writes, “I have recommended this book to many of my friends who are without jobs now. A very inspiring book of great ideas and references for those who want to work and be their own boss, which is not easy right now in our economy. I, too, have read it, and it almost makes me want to start up my own little business at home. Good job! Thanks....”

Joke Queen, from Los Angeles, writes in her Amazon.com review: “I bought Thank You For Firing Me for a friend who recently got downsized--to cheer her up and giver her some hope. I started reading it, and couldn't put it down. The authors thought of every possible type of worker and life situation, not just the usual info. There were ideas for everyone from office workers to welders to artists and stay at home parents. After reading the book, my friend was able to boost her income getting paid by the minute as a customer service rep for a huge company that outsources to people who work from home. That was just one of tons of resources they listed and ways to survive while you're in a career or job transition. Great book!! I also liked that it was entertaining, as well as informative and resourceful.”

This book is available at Amazon.com: Thank you for firing me!  How to catch the next wave of success after you lose your job

The End of Work as You Know It

By Milo Sindell and Thuy Sindell

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

The eight strategies are share expertise, initiate change, demand autonomy, create meaning, spark creativity, seize recognition, maintain balance, and build legacy.

The book is published by Ten Speed Press which is the publisher of the annually revised book , What Color Is Your Parachute?, which is the “number one job-hunting book of all time.”  Why mention this?  Ten Speed Press has a solid reputation to maintain; thus, it is unlikely (or certainly less likely) they will publish a weak book.

This 119-page book doesn’t offer ground-breaking insights and revelations; however, it is solid material that makes good sense — common sense.  Each chapter begins with a short situation that becomes a success story, then the authors quickly get to the point in each of the 13-14-page chapters, and the authors offer practical suggestions and ideas for how to have a similar success in your (the reader’s) own life.

There are no notes, and the resources are simply additional related resources that can be consulted.

This book is available at Amazon.com: The end of work as you know it: 8 strategies to redefine work on your own terms