Heavy

stay the hell out of the water! That's what I gained from reading this book.

He details his exploits and the exploits of others when encountering storm after storm during sailing yacht races.

Every chapter is an encounter with yet another storm. That can wear on you after a while. Sort of like being out all day in a strong cold wind. I felt beat up just reading about it.

At the begining of each chapter I kept finding myself willing him "Don't do it! You're going to regret it!" But, there are no surprises. He gets nailed every time. The only thing that amazes me is that he's still alive.

If that's the kind of book you like, you'll love this one. Me, I'm staying on shore.

This is my favorite sailing book. It is not only an excellent manual for coping with heavy weather, but also an entertaining drama for armchair sailors. This book includes descriptions of actual experiences and technical supporting material and research, covering everything from boat design to weather to foul weather gear. Every sailor should read this boat before setting out offshore.

Crusty limey who sailed the the waters of the British Isles & North Atlantic. Visceral first-hand descriptions of small vessels through 50+ years of the foulest weather. Detailed storm tracks. Practical life-saving techniques with pro& con discussions. This is the book that makes "Perfect Storm" look like an afternoon squall.

I think, Mr. Fingarette has as much authority to write on a subject of alcoholism, as he has on subjects of cancer, schizophrenia, or multiple sclerosis. It is remarkable that most books about alocoholism, written by professionals with doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, or medicine, enequivocally explain and support the scientific approach to achoholism as a disease, and as subject of psychiatry. And the medieval idea that alcoholism is a flaw of character, controllable by the power of will is, as always has been, proclaimed by the vocal laymen like Mr. Fingarette.

All major and most authoritative medical resources, such as American Medical Association and American Society of Addiction Medicine define alcoholism as a disease which is independent of and uncontrollable by human will and effort.

To the contrary, many laywriters and self-proclaimed experts of the human psyche attempt to trash the minds of their readers with false, couterscientific and socially dangerous ideas, which have already put staggering numbers (exceeding one hundred thousand by some sources) of mental patients behind prison bars, making the USA a focus of critique and condemnation of many human right organizations, such as our very own, US (NYC)-based Amnesty International

BTW, I have read Mr. Fingarette's book thoroughly and could find not even a single truly scientific evidence supporting his populist, but badly amatorish philosophy.

Better get this outstanding, easy-to-read, yet written by professionals book on alcoholism: Beyond the Influence : Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism by Katherine Ketcham, et al., available on amazon.com

In the fourteen years since the debut of this remarkable work, Professor Fingarette's book continues to be vilified by the current Alcoholism-as-Disease paradigm as a sham, harmful to its readers, and that it should be banned from all major book stores. It is simply amazing how this book struck the paradigm at its core, and how they haven't gotten over the hangover.

This book is truth at its simplistic best. It is cumbersome to admit one's own culpability, and even harder for an alcoholic to admit that he is his own worst enemy. I know. I was one. After years of living in fear of the next drink, which surely would lead me to a single, inexorable destructive conclusion, works like Dr. Fingarette's "Heavy Drinking" had shown me that I was creating my own self-fulfilling prophecy, and that I indeed had the power to change, not just one day at a time, but forever.

Of course, this idea flies in the face of those who promote the disease concept of alcoholism. Naturally, the multi-billion dollar institution will not tell you that they have done nothing to help the addiction situation since the AMA self-servingly declared alcoholism to be an illness in 1956. They continue to tell the public that the alcohol problem continues to skyrocket.

The harshest attack on Dr. Fingarette's book is his assertion that alcoholics can learn to control their drinking. It has been proven time and again by several major studies since the 1960s. And yet, the disease camp, founded by the old unfounded addage "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" spends countless millions in government-funded dollars promoting the idea that this is impossible. They have to. If they admitted that it was possible, their very essence would be threatened, and the industry would collapse.

Bravo to Dr. Fingarette for having the guts to stand firm in the face of such pressure and present the truth. It is only by the presence of more secure individuals like the good doctor when a real answer can be offered to those who abuse alcohol and drugs. The keys to success are motivation, values, morality (yes, what's wrong with living a morally decent life?), and maturity. Life is worth living, and the same joy that was once found in a bottle can be found inside the joys of parenthood, work, and success.

After reading Fingarette's essay "Alcoholism and Self-Deception" in _Self-Deception and Self-Understanding_, I was eager for more of his unique and interesting perspective on problem drinking. In this short and very readable book, Fingarette steadily and easily demolishes the prevailing opinion that alcoholism is a disease in which the alcoholic loses control over his drinking. (The scientific community long ago abandoned this view, but it lives on as dogma through the recovery movement.) Fingarette instead explains problem drinking as the result of choices that elevate drinking into a "central activity" in the drinker's life. He argues that the motivations for the choices that make drinking a core value are as many and varied as are the individuals making them. My only serious objection to the book comes in the final chapter on social policy; Fingarette would seem to be happy to turn this country into a totalitarian state to prevent some people from making stupid choices about alcohol. Despite that flaw, _Heavy Drinking_ presents an impressive and well-reasoned case against the disease model of problem drinking.

I had high hopes for this book. I have been a John Bonham fan since I was a kid. He was the reason I wanted to learn to play the drums. This book falls short by skating over many of the Led Zeppelin years. I have read both 'Hammer of the Gods' and 'Stairway to Heaven' and I had high hopes that this book would be as good as those, but just focused more on Bonzo than the whole band. Unfortunately, this book just doesn't cut it as a biography. It's got some neat photos and the analysis of Bonham's playing and his drum setups are great, but the rest of the book is more like a high school term paper. The authors should read 'Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in The Crossfire' by Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford for clues about how to write a biography, then try again to write a Bonham biography. The Led Zeppelin DVD is a FAR better investment than this book.

It's nice to finally see a book that focuses on Zeppelin's secret weapon, Bonzo. Not only was he one of the greatest ever, his drum SOUND was without parallel. Reading about how he tuned his drums and other information about he got that sound was invaluable. Like another reviewer stated, too much time was spent on his pre-Zep days, and not enough as part of Hammer of the Gods era. The last chapter, with individual tracks explained was great, but it also have been nice to see some transcriptions of some of his amazing fills, etc. If you buy this book, you also owe it to yourself to buy the new Zeppelin DVD, which allows to see Bonzo in action in a serious way for the first time (it's light years better than "The Song Remains the Same."). If you do want to know where John's greatness came from, this book is a good place to start.

Obviously the best rock drummer of all time, the book includes ample information about Bonham's personal life, as well as his professional side and even his tricks of the trade.

The book is a clinic for rock drummers. Bonzo and others who worked with him, discuss how he tuned his drums, what drums he used and why, what to do and not to do about drumskins, and more.

The book also contains some remarkable color photos of the band on stage. With their dazzling light show, the photos suggest what it might have been like.

But what I can't understand is this. The book says that Bonham "drank vodka out of a bottle like water". Someone that far gone obviously needs help. With all of the people around him, did anyone try to organize a posse to get him some help?

Bonzo's alcoholizm even got to the point of interfering with rehearsals and shows, and soon after, ending his life. Did they all think they were invincible? Robert Plant's experiences in near previous years should have taught not. What a waste of an incredibly gifted musician, and a human being.

A very tough task Mr. Strong has embarked upon with this book, and it's quite informative. However, like so many books of this kind, there are tons of mistakes and typos. In Ozzy's section for example, keyboardist Don Airey is called Don Avery, and Mike Inez is said to have played bass on "Ozzmosis" when it actually was Geezer Butler. Drummer Deen Castranovo and keybaords players Rick Wakeman and Michael Beinhorn (the LP's producer) and even guitar great Zakk Wylde aren't even mentioned! Nor is Joe Holmes who replaced Wylde on the ensuing tour which also John Sinclair return on keys and midway through saw Butler and Castronovo leave replaced by Robert Trujillo (who he does mention) and Mike Bordin (who he doesn't). This is just a minor example. Also, for whatever reason he only lists the Top 100 album placings for US charts when it goes to the Top 200. I don't get it. He also fails to update lineups on many of the later albums by bands. He lists no personnel on the last 4 Dio albums! And, many singles have the b-sides and a-sides backwards. Also, I'm ahuge Asia fan, but metal? Plus, he hasn't updated their career since 1994! That being said, he must be given credit for the inhuman effort and I'll continue supporting his works.

I've heard it said that people are upset with some of Martin Strong's album ratings, but I think that is missing the point by a long shot. This isn't a book to be bought for it's reviews. It's to be bought and savored for it's unbelievable wealth of discographical (?) information. I've logged countless hours on the toilet with a Highlighter running through the bands and rediscovering songs that I had long forgotten. The Rebel MC's books hold down a place of honor in my music library, right next to Joel Whitburn's Billboard books. Both of labours of love that I can identify with. (And the fact that you can STEAL this one for $1.99 just KILLS me! DO IT!)

WOW, there is a lot of information here. I've been a Metal DJ for 10 years, and this book is really helpful as to 'who played with who and for how long and when they left said band'. Some of the names are spelled wrong and some of the band members are listed as playing instruments they didn't play, but overall this is a nice companion reference book .

I bought this Bible for my teenager at the end of the school year. When I first saw this Bible I thought my daughter was'nt going to like because of the small print. But she thought it looked cool and with the metal case it did'nt look like any other Bible she had seen before. The first time she took it to her youth group it was a hit, everyone wanted to know where she got it. Now she reads it more than any other Bible she's owned, it's very easy to under stand. With the help of one of those credit card looking plastic magnifing glasses she has no problem studying her lessons. It's price is just about right and I don't have to buy a cover for it and it's very tough (she droped it a few times and it can take the punishment she gives it, only had to bend it back in shape one time, very easy). I only wish that they made them bigger, thats why I only give it 4 stars, because it is difficult for me to read without a magnifing glass but every teen and young adult that we know likes it.

I had a hard time giving this book only 4 stars, but I wish it had a version that came with apocryphal texts.

This version is meant to target teens, which I am not. However I just love it. The metal slips easily in and out of my purse. No zipper to wear out, no leather to scuff. Another reader mentions the tiny print. It IS small, but very clear. Some of us older "teens" may need reading glasses. Thankfully I'm not yet there...

Who thought of this idea? (Not the Bible -- but the metal binding it is in.) The binding is just an awesome addition to an all ready wonderful translation. The New Living Translation is very readable and easily understandable. And now I see there are four different designs of the metal Bible to choose from. This is a great gift for anyone who is ready for an exciting Bible adventure.

When is paranoia justified? How do you know if you're mentally stable? What should the limits of corporate power be? These are some of the questions that Cherryh asks in this book, and gives at least some intimation of what the answers should be.

This book represents the earliest shown time-point in the Merchanter/Alliance/Union universe, before the war has really broken out, and stays entirely within the solar asteroid belt and at sub-light speeds for its action. Here we have the ASTEX company controlling the great majority of the mining of the asteroids, with only a company limited role for independent prospectors. The main story revolves around Dekker, rescued from his damaged ship by two other independents, Pollard and Bird, and the slowly brought to light details of just how Dekker's accident occurred in the first place.

Dekker, with all his mental problems from his accident, and Bird, as the older, experienced independent prospector, are very well realized characters. Pollard is not as fully realized, but he is far more fully developed in the sequel to this book, Hellburner. The society of miners, the space station environment, and the economic structure are a little hard to get your mind around at first, as Cherryh presents bits and pieces of these items almost as side items to her action and dialogue. But by the end of the book, you begin to realize just how well she has created and defined this near self-contained world, so different from most Earth societies, but with recognizable points of similarity, of definite humanity.

The problems of this book come from this same style of presenting facts to the reader in regards to celestial navigation. Unless you are well versed in this subject, and can extrapolate from a single sentence of description to an entire scenario of vectors, g-forces, and delta-v requirements you will probably find that there are several action sequences that either don't make much sense or don't carry the high feeling of danger that they were intended to. This is minimization of expository material taken to the extreme.

Cherryh's prose style for her Merchanter books has always been very abbreviated, clipped, full of unexplained acronyms, with a large number of incomplete sentences. This style is good for providing a sense of tension and fast action, and does well in this book as she slowly reveals the details of just how the Company is trying squeeze out all the 'little' people and take total control of the Belt, but it does take some getting used to.

The action of this story drives Cherryh's thematic points, on the need for human independence and companionship, the depths of unbridled greed, the tenuous line between real and unreal within the mind, and the necessity for all people to keep on doing what is possible, regardless of odds.

A very good action story, but really needed a little more background and explanatory material to make a solid, cohesive whole. Required reading before starting Hellburner, however, where the problems of this book fade away and the full power of her envisioned world can be seen.

Could easily be an X-Files government conspiracy episode in space. Surprisingly entertaining for a story without many subplots. The universe it takes place in seems pretty interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books by Cherryh set in this universe.

I am a devoted fan of C. J. Cherryh thanks to her fantasy novels Chernevog and Russalka. Her talent for science fiction, it appears, equals her talent for fantasy: she is alarmingly versatile in her style and subject matter. Heavy time is what the crew of a spacecraft needs, after concluding a mission, to restabilise metabolism, bodily functions and psychological processes. But when your heavy time is spent on a space station inhabited chiefly by those who have never seen a mountain or a snake, run by a company that would rather kill than lose profit or power, where your every movement and transaction is logged and controlled by said company, perhaps you are better off taking your chances in deep space. The two-man crew of a mining vessel picks up a distress signal, and they rescue a distraught young pilot whose mind is half gone, but who remembers enough to cause serious problems for the company. Perhaps they can get the break they've always longed for by claiming salvage rights on his ship. But maybe the repercussions - moral and political - will be too vast. One thing's for sure: the consequences of this trip will not be straightforward for anybody. Cherryh pours her almost full-stop-less prose straight into the consciousness; her characters are grit-tough, but you love them for it; the technical detail makes you ache to get your head round it and the plot is speedy, supercharged, breathtaking. This novel is considered a science fiction classic, and deservedly so. It's stunningly visual: I'd love to see it on film. I didn't want to put this book down; I'll certainly be on the lookout for the rest of the series. Cherryh's skill is consummate.

Although I found "Over the Top: The True Story of Guns N Roses" the most complete history, and probably most insightful that I have ever read, I had some problems with the book that left a sour taste in my mouth by the end. First off, somewhere in the middle of the book, Putterford is discussing the declining "style" of the concerts during the Illusions tour, he refers to W. Axl Rose as pulling a Donny & Marie by singing a duet with "female singer, Shannon Hoon" on Don't Cry. His complete disregard for who Hoon really is astounded me and made me be suspicious of his credibility. Also, I cannot stand it when music journalists criticize the Illusion albums. Most fans know that Appetite was the defining album for GN'R, no one disputes that, but journalists rarely give credit where credit is due. The Illusion albums showed a band that no longer lived off of Sunset Strip, I don't think anyone expected them to sing about drugs and alcohol forever, they're in the thirties. In my opinion, the Illusion albums were musically better than Appetite could ever be. Also Putterford's book seems to give a lot of new information, but all it really does is take all the rumors and press releases over the last decade and link them together. He criticizes the band for being in it for the money, but then you have to wonder....what's his purpose in writing this book?

Excellent book, very nice pictures too, fun to read. One of the best about Guns n' Roses. If you're a fan, don't hesitate!

this book is good for fans who don't know much about the band trying to pick up information on them. Since i didn't tune into the band until 5 years or so after their last tour i found it very helpful. it is pretty good and interesting reading if you are really that interested in the band.

A good Ozzy biography is long overdue. Unfortunatly this is not it. The main text is sadly lacking in details including places and events. Ozzy's headlining show at the Donnington Monsters of Rock (16th Aug '86) doesn't get a mention and neither does his performance at the Port Vale festival (1st Aug '81) where he famously stood in for Black Sabbath. Almost crimainally, Ozzy's second guitarist, Jake E. Lee doesn't even receive a name check and is passed off as "...the first decent player that came along."
Positive notes? The discography section at the back is wonderfu. It's just a shame that the rest of the book is not as well researched.

While I don't know the accuracy on all of the facts, this was a book I enjoyed reading. It gives you the real story, and quotes by members of Black Sabbath, Sharon Osbourne, and other people Ozzy is associated with; not rumors of Ozzy being a psychopath and Satanist as some sources claim. At the end of the book, there is a complete discography, including reissues and imports of Ozzy's solo albums and with Black Sabbath. There is also a great collection of photos in the middle of the book. I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan, or just interested in Ozzy Osbourne's life story.

Ozzy Unauthorized by biographer Sue Crawford is an informed and informative charting heavy metal icon and unforgettable personality Ozzy Osbourne. Enhanced with 32 pages of photographs, a full discography and chronology, a specially commissioned astrological chart, this succinctly written biography offers a candid, no-holds-barred study of the man whose latest achievement is bringing record ratings to MTV as the star of uniquely irreverent "reality" documentary "The Osbournes." Ozzy Unauthorized is "must" reading for Ozzy's legions of fans.

Well I was really interested in reading some of Rollins's work so I bought Eye Scream. At first I couldn't put the book down and towards the middle I would skip around and now I just pick it up to read a few pages every once in a while. In my opinion I think that Rollins is too repititious in what he is writing and I was finding that he was pretty much saying the same things in different ways. It is an interesting book if you can get past all that. I'm sure one day I will finish it, and I do respect him for his stances on the many issues that does write about in such a raw manner. If you haven't read anything by Rollins before I suggest you do...it will definately bring things to your attention that have never been previously.

Henry is on a rant. He is the Mekanik. He is the Incinerator. He knows Everything about Fear. Some points in this book remind me highly of Naked Lunch. WSB was on a Heroin binge. Henry's running on sheer cynicism and hatred. It's pretty simple. If you like the lyrics from 'Weight', you'll probably like this.

To make a long story short. This book along with 3 others by the same author were the only friends for me in the later part of 2000. I became aware that the girl I was in love with.. the one I wanted to marry, had been cheating on me. These books helped me through a really hard and emotional time in my life. I gave all of the Rollins books I had to friends who (I thought) needed them. ALL of these friends after reading the books knew what I meant when I told them these were books of inspiration for someone who has loss or pain.
ENJOY.

This book is good if you are just getting into the extreme metal scene and want a little info on some bands to see if you would like to buy some of their material. If you are looking for an in-depth write up on your favorite band though, look elsewhere. There are some omissions of some bands that should have been included, and some basic info on very influencial bands that should have been expounded upon. There is also alot of info on very popular bands that should not have been in here(Metallica). Also, since it was written in 2000 there are some good new bands that have not been mentioned. Now while that is not the authors fault, just be warned your favorite new band might not be in here.

Extreme deodarant, extreme cheddar goldfish...OK, not everything with the word "extreme" in it is very exciting, but this music is truly intense! When I got this book, I was getting really into thrash/speed metal. A friend of mine was introducing me to some underground bands that I was impressed with, but I wanted to find out about some bands on my own instead of having to rely on him to hear about all these bands. With this book, I could do just that. It's amazing how many bands are out there in the underground that no one is aware of. This book showed me that metal is much more alive than people think. I gave it 4 stars 'cause I'm not really intrested in black metal. Those bands seem gimmicky and a lot of 'em have keyboard players. But I think any thrash-metal fan should get this book, 'cause without it, you'll miss out on a lot!

I was really getting into thrash/speed metal when I got this book. A friend of mine recommended some underground thrash and death metal bands to me, and I was really impressed, but I still thought I wasn't completely underground because I wasn't finding out about any of these bands on my own. With this book, I did just that. Now, I truly am an underground metalhead, and it feels great! I gave it 4 stars 'cause I think that black metal is gimmicky and cartoonish, and a lot of those bands have keyboard players too. I recommend this book to every thrash fan, because without it you'll miss out on a lot!