ATTENTION HISTORIANS AND BIOGRAPHY LOVERS!

YOUNG MICHELANGELO: The Path To The Sistine

by John T. Spike

(Published by The Vendome Press)

This book is so fascinating I could hardly put it down! The story reads like a novel, but it is a well-researched biography of one of the most fascinating men in history, Michelangelo Buonarroti. This book shadows the sculptor and painter for the first 33 years of his long life.

I had no idea that Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were competitors and contemporaries. Can you imagine that these two "supermen" lived at the same time? They were as famous as any rock star or celebrity in their day.

We are taken inside the action through Michelangelo's own words in his letters and his autobiography. We see the incredible violence of the time. If you didn't like a political rival, just kill him! The Medici's and the Borgia's are incredibly interesting. The Borgia's hired da Vinci to make war machines for them.

The famous statue of David was actually started by another sculptor and the thin piece of Carrera marble lay in a field until Michelangelo received the commission to finish the statue. He left the top of the head unfinished. Why?

John T. Spike is a fascinating writer and historian. You can see my interview with him on the TIME WARNER CABLE TEXAS CHANNEL on the TIME WARNER TEXAS NETWORK. Just look for CONVERSATIONS CAFE. The show is carried in 10 separate markets across the state of Texas. It is also a VOD (Video On Demand) offering in all of the markets, so you can see us when you want to!

To listen to my interview with John T. Spike, just click here.

DAVE LIEBER'S WATCHDOG NATION:  Bite Back When Businesses and Scammers Do You Wrong

By Dave Lieber

This deceptively small book is absolutely packed with information.  I mentally sat up and began to really pay attention when I started reading the story on page 18 ("When they come knocking, you go tappin').   

The story describes  a situation that happened to Doug Black and it actually happened to me as well!  Doug is a much more savvy person than I am and avoided having his money taken.  I guess I still cling to the belief that people might just be who they say they are.  I was taken in by the same scam that Doug was smart enough to avoid and I didn't even realize it until I read Dave's book!

The average person has access to enough tools  via the Internet to "take on" scammers,  utility companies, and businesses when we believe we have been taken advantage of, overcharged, or wronged in some way.  The book gives all of us the information we need to protect ourselves. The book contains literally  hundreds of ways you can do it.

I feel better just having a copy of this handy book.  It has given me so many ideas, it's actually priceless!  What do you think?  

hear the interview

PARDON MY FRENCH:  Unleash Your Inner Gaul

By Charles Timoney

If you've ever been to France or plan to go, this is a must have.  I will never part with my copy of this delightful, insightful, useful book!  I have been to lovely Paris and I have none of the horror stories so many Americans have about the French, but if I had had this handy little tome, I would have done so much better!

Charles Timoney is an Englishman by birth who migrated to France when both he and his wife lost their jobs some 20 odd years ago.  Charles finds himself in a country where he doesn't speak the language!  "Total Emersion" French I believe you could call it.  He plunges right in and learns, but not without a faux pas or deux.  He has written the book he wishes he had.  

It is written as he so aptly states "from the point of view of an Englishman," which means seeing French and France from his point of view.  He is witty and charming in his information and descriptions.  This really is a manual filled with words and advice, but it's such enjoyable reading you might find yourself learning something.

I enjoyed my interview with him very much.    He is dashingly charming on the tele.  He sounds like the Englishman he is without a trace of a French accent.  I really enjoyed and value the book.  What do you think?

hear the interview

WHAT'S MATH GOT TO DO WITH IT?  Helping Children Learn To Love Their Least Favorite Subject 

By Jo Boaler

When I first saw this book, I thought how important it is.  Math is one of those subjects that many of us, myself included,  struggled with when we were in school.  If the foundation of math skills isn't strong, then upper level math becomes impossible.

According to a recent assessment done of 40 countries, the United States ranks 28th.  Not exactly a stellar ranking for the most powerful nation in the world.  The United States is rapidly falling further and further behind the rest of the developed world when it comes to math education.   If something isn't done to promote math education, not only will our economy suffer but other areas such as medicine and science will as well.  This is not a problem to be ignored.  It is a problem to be addressed by both educators and parents.

Ideas for new approaches to math education in our world are given as well as ideas for parents to encourage their children in math.  This book would be ideal for the child who is struggling with math or for the child who has yet to encounter math.  Don't wait.  Pick up a copy of this important book today and help a child become a "math whiz" instead of someone who fears math like the monster under the bed at night.  What do you think?

hear the interview

THE PURSUIT:  Wisdom for the Adventure of Your Life By Pat Williams

In this small, but powerful book, the reader is introduced to a man, Mr. R. E. Littlejohn, who influenced the life of Pat Williams through his wisdom and philosophy of life.

There are six key principles the author learned from Mr. Littlejohn.  

1.  Control What You Can

2.  Be Patient

3.  Pay Your Dues

4.  Keep It Simple

5.  Don't Run From Problems

6.  Pay Attention to the Little Things

Pat shares his personal growth under the watchful eyes of Mr. Littlejohn.  Pat has spent more than 45 years in professional sports from farm club baseball to co-founder of the NBA Orlando Magic where he currently serves as Senior Vice President.  He shares with the reader how Mr. Littlejohns wisdom transformed his life and the book is a tribute.  Pat also believes it is now time to "pay it forward" and pass on some of the wisdom he has learned.  What do you think?

hear the interview

ARE YOU READY?  Take Charge, Lose Weight, Get in Shape, and Change Your Life Forever

By Bob Harper

The title really says it all, doesn't it?  Bob Harper is a fitness trainer on the reality television show "THE BIGGEST LOSER."  

I like the approach he takes with this book.  It's simple and straight forward.  I particularly like the idea behind Part I titled "Your Inner Compass."  Bob's philosophy is truly a mind, body and spirit approach.  I have always found exercise to be a wonderful stress reducer.  

There are assessment tools throughout the book as well as a series of illustrated exercises at the back of the book.  If you're looking for a resource to help you kick off a spring/summer "self make-over," this is an excellent book to help you get started.  What do you think?

hear the interview

THE LAST SINGLE WOMAN IN AMERICA By Cindy Guidry

Congratulations Cindy!  This book will be the basis for a new HBO series!  You heard it here!

This book is actually a collection of essays that hang together and create a book about the author's life.  It is funny, poignant, and right on target!  It could be a manual for the man who wants to look inside the female brain and try to figure out what makes us tick.  

Cindy was once a New Line Cinema executive who loses her job and isn't upset about it.  She takes the reader on a journey involving a Canadian neighbor who knows it all, a Yoda-like waxing lady (who philosophizes with the author in "the position'), and a family whose dysfunction makes them even more endearing.  If you don't find yourself laughing, tearful, and shaking your head while thinking "Yes!  that's right!", I will be surprised. This is an interesting slice of life book I really enjoyed reading.  Good luck with the TV series!  If you need any voice talent, let me know!

hear the interview

YOU CAN LEAD A POLITICIAN TO WATER BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM THINK by Kinky Friedman

Question: What do you call an individual who runs for an elected state office?
Answer: A politician?

When I recently taped the interview with Kinky Friedman about his latest book, he told me he wasn't a politician. As Kinky himself might say, if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...is it a duck?

By throwing his large, black cowboy hat into the ring to run for the governorship of the great state of Texas, I believe Kinky became a politician. Oh not one in the traditional sense of the word, but a politician nonetheless. He is also many other things: a humorist with a wicked, quick, intelligent, sharp-as-a-Texas-tack wit, an entertainer, an author (Did you know he has written 17 detective novels?) and a bigger-than-life-size celebrity. All of this may be good news or bad news depending upon where you stand.

The new book is a backward glance at his campaign as well as a look at his ideas for the future. The book is written in typical tongue-in-cheek Kinky rhetoric, but the message is quite clear. He is a serious candidate with some ideas I, quite frankly, find intriguing. I hope you will take the time to read his book and tell me what you think.

listen to interview