Customer Reviews (1)

You nose it makes sense
Accomplished stage and screen actor, Mr. Langella mentions in the preface to Cyrano that adapting Edmond Rostand's classic Cyrano de Bergerac had been nagging away at him for many years. As an actor who had played the part of the long-nosed swordsman twice in his career he realized that the challenge existed to strip Rostand's Cyrano down to a minimal cast, with less battle scenes, no more hordes of nuns and reducing the epic music that accompanied the original. Langella's attempt at paring down this classic makes for a very enjoyable read. What prevails by the final page of the book is the realization that Langella has, by taking away some of the pomp and ceremony, left the reader with the realization that this isn't a story about a guy with a big nose but rather one of the most painful love stories ever written. The love triangle that exists between the beautiful Roxane, the handsome, yet tongue-tied Christian and of course, Cyrano the poet has been revamped to appeal to a younger generation. The language is more contemporary than the original and by removing some of the many superfluous characters from the original cast page it is a far quicker read. Langella's Cyrano is however not without it's faults. He tries to add a new twist on the original by focusing too much on the character of Lise, the mute servant girl being in secret admiration of Cyrano. In the same way that Cyrano feels himself too ugly to be noticed by Roxane, Cyrano is considered at fault for never recognizing the adoring Lise. Perhaps if this adaptation was actually seen on stage this sub-plot might make more sense, but as a reader it seems an unnecessary part of the plot to focus on. In conclusion, Langella has done a fine job. It's certainly no classic but it is a great attempt at giving Rostand a new contemporary feel. I would certainly recommend readers getting back in touch with the most famous long-nosed literary character to grace the pages of a book. It won't disappoint! ... Read more

Product Description
An audiobook to be treasured by all history buffs: the companion volume to the ABC TV documentary.

This remarkable biography presents Abraham Lincoln as we have never before seen him.The insightful and vibrant narrative draws extensively on diaries, letters, and other primary sources to provide a remarkably close-up view of Lincoln: the boy, the homespun politician, the president, the military leader, the man with his family.Philip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Philip B. Kunhardt III and Peter W. Kunhardt give us the fascinating life– from birth to death–of the extraordinary man who was the 16th president of the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Lincoln: An Illustrative Biography
I loved this book. It was in great shape when I received it.The book was advertised as having information and pictures never before seen in other books.I have read many books on Lincoln and there were pictures and info in there that were new to me. It is the first time that I had seen a picture of Tad Lincoln as a teen and of Robert Lincoln also as a teen.I read every word and loved it. It was written in such a way that when Lincoln was killed, it made me cry like it had just happened.My husband said, "Why are you crying?" and I said, "Lincoln was shot!" and he said, "Well I have known that for years!"Audrey Sofield/Barber

Read this, Dont just leave it on the coffee table
I had the unusual experience of reading three Lincoln biographies in a row - Team of Rivals, 1876/J. Winick, and this.I just loved the completeness of this, the lack fo agenda and basis on facts and documents, and careful editing of texts.Team of Rivals is full of poor editing and strange emphases -- some themes just get too much attention and airtime in balance, and its almost like a team writing effort run amuck.The Kunhardts work methodically and thoroughly and make even the smallest item in their collection so informative.A lovely classy book.

A Great Pictorial Collection
This is the best collection of Lincoln and Lincoln related photos I have ever seen.It took me more than an hour just to leaf through its pages the first time.

Possibly every picture taken of the iconic president (some completely new to me) is in here. I had read once of Lincoln's "leathery" complexion, but saw it for the first time here.In some pictures, Lincoln is nearly handsome (!) and in some his plain homeliness is clear.Put together chronologically, the reader watches the young man age and be worn by the war.Photography at the time required long exposures, so anything approaching a smile is difficult and so Lincoln smiles are very rare. In addition to Lincoln, his family, friends, rivals, generals and secretaries are here, many famous, many not.A few pictures are repeated when the text needs the visual support.Picture of his towns, his few homes, even the sort of fences he built are here. There are few Civil War battlefield pictures but those can be found elsewhere.

The text, a panegyric, is helpful for Lincoln novices and often with well chosen quotations from the man and his contemporaries. The authors do not distinguish between the prolific but suspect recollections of law partner Herndon or relative Dennis Hanks and the more credible witnesses.This is a visual paean to Lincoln, well put together and worth owning.

One more note: it is often hard, in other books, to see Lincoln's eyes, shadowed by his heavy untrimmed eyebrows and increasingly sunken in his face. Lincoln's intelligent eyes become progressively sad and experienced, bagged and wrinkled. Perhaps that combination is what we see as wise.

Superb Photographic Biography
This superb collection of over 900 photos gives us a moving picture-biography of America's 16th President.The story is presented in chronological order, beginning in the late 1840's as Abraham Lincoln was gaining stature in Illinois.That rise accelerated a decade later, culminating in his nomination and election as President in 1860.A majority of the book examines Lincoln's years in the White House (1861-1865), where he performed as President while the nation was torn apart by Civil War.Readers see the ceaseless pressures Lincoln faced as he strove to hold the nation together, win the war, and solve the slavery question.We also see his tragic personal life, with the deaths of two sons (another died shortly after he did) and his increasingly unstable wife.This isn't a scholarly biography, yet it provides a compelling portrait of the man widely considered as the greatest President in U.S. history. The book makes an excellent compliment for Lincoln fans, and a solid introduction for others.

Gorgeous
Kudos to the publisher Knopf and all involved on the quality of this book. The reproduction of the 19th century photographs is first rate. The sepia toned image of the great man inside the front cover is exceptionally gorgeous - just breathtaking.

John Updike said Knopf publishes the most physically beautiful books in America,and this book leads me to believe he's right.

This is not a comprehesive,scholarly biography of Lincoln, nor does it pretend to be. But the text reads well,and the Lincoln photographs are beautiful, all-inclusive and presented in sound written context. The large size of the book works particularly nicely here. Well done! ... Read more

Product Description
An award-winning investigative journalist draws on interviews with the Kennedy family and their intimates to trace the life and times of Joseph Kennedy, including his sexual affairs, his daughter Rosemary's illness, and his anti-Semitism. Simultaneous. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Sins Indeed
It is amazing that Joe Kennedy could father such intelligent, politically successful children while reining over a family unit that was so utterly dysfunctional. While Joe connived and cheated his way through life and became incredibly successful and wealthy, he eventually paid a hell of price for the single minded political ambition he had for himself and his children. Living long enough to see so many of his progeny die unnatural deaths and winding up a virtual prisoner in his own body; it couldn't have been easy for him in those last few agonizing years of his life. If he hadn't been such a pompous, lying, cheating, philandering jerk, you could almost feel sorry for him. But here it is, warts and all, the Kennedy family legacy. It is a good read, but it doesn't do much for the reputation of the Kennedy clan in general or Joe in particular.

Great book
This is a great story of how the family got started. If you ever watched Dallas or Dynasty, this is the spitting image in written form. If you ever heard or wondered why the Kennedy boys turned out the way they did, it all has to do with their father's teachings.
I just can't beleive some of the things Joe Kennedy could get away with! I don't know if he could do it all his way in this era. A great read.

GREAT BOOK
Great story, great read, and an eye-awakening account of the Kennedy's and their fateful journey through life.Joe is the type of man horror movies are made out of and the title of the book is absolutely fitting!

Sins of the Father
The material in this book explains the title very well. Joe Kennedy used any means he could to make money and ensure that he would be a success at whatever he was doing at a given time. This is the first time I learned about his 9 year affair with his secretary in the late 40's into the 50's. It is amazing how Rose and her children turned a blind eye to Joe's mistresses even after it became quite obvious to any outside observer what was really going on. I read another review on here saying that the reason Joe had Rosemanry lobotomized was because he had been raping her and she had begun to tell others what was going on. I didn't see anything like that in the book, but there was a whole chapter dedicated to Rosemary and her lobotomy. It is such a shame that he basically cast Rosemary out of their lives after the lobotomy and it wasn't until after Joe died that she started to come back to Hyannis Port and Palm Beach to visit her family.

The Power of Personality
Kessler's,"The Sins of the Father," is a page turner, not merely for the colorful and bombastic life of Joseph P. Kennedy. But, a gut check for those fraught with extreme ambition and a thirst for power. Joseph Kennedy answered the age old question, "How far would you go to achieve ultimate power?" His life's response was, "To the ends of the earth." That he did and more.

In addition, Kennedy is an excellent case study on a small percentile of individuals steeped in an insatiable desire to achieve great success at all costs. The statement,"Men do not differ an any respect from other animals, but survive, according to their aptitudes, by adapting themselves to exterior conditions which prevail at the moment of their birth,"(P. 102). The gene pool, environment, and conditions that create a Joseph Kennedy is more prevalent in contemporary times than they ever were.

"The Sins of the Father" is the potential for greatness and vile we all have within us. The ending words speak volumes to our best and worst--"...He did not care about his reputation.What he cared most about was having power.Through the political dynasty that he founded, Joseph P. Kennedy achieved that for generations to come.If he hurt and corrupted others in the process, it was because no one had the courage to challenge him.For that, they only have themselves to blame" (p. 428).

Edward Brown
Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute

... Read more

Product Description
The two most treasured documents of American freedom together on one audiobook.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 as an act of rebellion, The Declaration of Independence powerfully expresses the political principles of an emerging nation. As justification for severing ties with England, The Declaration presented a list of grievances against the King and declared the colonies to be sovereign states.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Ratified in 1788, The Constitution remains a shining example of patriotism and compromise. In outlining the power of the three branches of government and establishing the rights of all Americans, The Constitution united the 13 independent states and set forth the official viewpoint of a newly unified nation. Its most significant and insightful feature is that it can always be amended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Constitution Book
It's the Constitution of the United States; what's NOT to love? The book is small, compact, clear and easy to read - I wanted that very thing to carry with me for easy reference and this is it.Great book and of course, love the content :)

An American Must Own
In September 2010 I purchased several copies of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. Our present times seem to inspire us to learn more about our form of government and although myself and my family members had been taught this in school none of us had copies on hand.These copies are well appointed paperback books and easy to read.They were printed by Soho books the day after I ordered them with the print date stamped on the back page. They were promptly shipped through Amazon as is everything I have ordered from Amazon.I would recommend that every American household have this copy of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

US Constitution
I am going back to school to become a paralegal and I thought I should buy a copy of the US Constitution for my future use.This book is great.It lets you know what parts of the original document have been amended and when; all of the amendments are in the book.It also has the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation which is an added bonus.

The Declaration of Independence And constitution of the United States of America
This booklet should be in every AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD AND EVERY CLASS ROOM IN THIS COUNTRY.I feel that the teachers in our class rooms throughout this country have not kept pace with what this country means to the future of the FREE WORLD.


THE BEST PRINTING IN FREE WORLD

Great to carry it with you
I love the fact that it's a pocket item. Delivery was fast, had a misundertanding with post office, but not the selling person, they were on time.Great purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
Arthur C. Clark, creator of one of the world's best-loved science fiction tales, revisits the most famous future ever imagined in this NEW YORK TIMES bestseller, as two expeditions into space become inextricably tangled. Heywood Floyd, survivor of two previous encounters with the mysterious monloiths, must again confront Dave Bowman, HAL, and an alien race that has decided that Mankind is to play a part in the evolution of the galaxy whether it wishes to or not.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (95)

Maybe Flawed But Still . . . . . .
The big idea behind Arthur C. Clarke's 2001 series is so good that just about anything he wrote within it would be good reading.This isn't a great book -- it really has an amazing amount of catchup-style narrative, telling us what has gone on over long periods of time in order to set the context for dialog and action in the present tense.John Barth derisively referred to such narrative as "corning the goose."

The other thing that Clarke does in this book is explain.He explains what's going on on Europa.He explains (more or less) what's happened to Dave Bowman.One of the great things, I thought, about 2001 was how little he explained.The enigma of the blank, black monoliths was great -- a power beyond our ken.Fortunately in this book, Clarke doesn't explain who made the monoliths.Even Dave Bowman doesn't understand who they are.

But I don't really care about what are arguably faults in the book.I enjoyed it, I enjoyed finding out what was going on on Europa, and I even enjoyed knowing a little more about Dave Bowman's fate.And I especially enjoy the way that Clarke puts us in our place, contrasting us with an inconceivably different and sophisticated alien presence.

What happened to the master???
I am giving this one two stars out of respect for one of my favourite authors.I have 3001 at home but can't bring myself to read it.

He ran out of ideas
This book is good.In the "Odyssey" series, the majority of it stands up as incredible as the rest of the series.Unfortunately, it's the least well-written (discluding 3001 because it was utter trash), and not solely because the author seemingly ran out of ideas.


Arthur C. Clarke does a splendid job of describing things like Halley's Comet, its surface, and even handles with the same level of shock, amazement, wonder, and awe the discoveries in "2001" or more accurately, in "2010" when Dr. Chinese Guy I mistakingly called "Tsien" in my other review reveals there is life on Europa.But things like finding vaguely maybe-organic matter beneath the surface of Halley's Comet is hardly the highest in this regard.


But first, the book itself.The story does well in extending the style and tradition of the Odyssey series, setting up several plotlines to be handled in a later sequel (which 3001 does not count because it goes off on its own story) involving an African terrorist group only revolving around the name "Shaka" (as in Shaka Zulu).

The story, though, is almost nonexistant.It involves two massive passenger spacecraft, Galaxy and Universe, with Universe carrying Heywood Floyd, a 100+ year old with the physical health of a 60 year old, and others to explore Halley's Comet, while Galaxy is across the Solar system probing Europa.


A terrorist attack by someone from this "Shaka" organization causes Galaxy to crashland on Europa.She (the terrorist) is conveniently killed in the crash, and now Galaxy calls for help, and Rohan will answer.I mean, "Universe".


So there's no real drama, as Galaxy is safe and has enough supplies to last the several months journey.Universe, meanwhile, discovers a method to cut the travel time down to a few weeks and undertakes it.


The big revelations made revolve chiefly around a Europan mountain called "Mount Zeus" which is not very cleverly disguised by Arthur C. Clarke under the title of an old Beatles song, which if you've read "2010" pretty much gives it away right then and there (Non-Spoiler alert is further ruined since he mentions it involving someone named Lucy.If you still don't get it: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds")


So Mount Zeus is made entirely of diamond.In fact, it's part of Jupiter's original core that crashed onto the surface only recently.


This is of extreme interest to an Afrikaaner scientist Rolf van der Berg, who takes Heywood Floyd's grandson Chris Floyd out to study it.

In the process, they discover sentient life in Europa, life that has established a village around the black Monolith, and has stripped all the metal off the Tsien for some odd reason.


All of a sudden, the minimalist story is given a sudden push towards the ending, and events suddenly unfold rapidly, in a Harry Turtledove past-tense style where some big event is about to happen, then the next chapter takes place AFTER the event, with people talking about the event.


As well, there are some things which due apparently to a lack of a proper sequel, come off as massive Red Herrings:

- "Shaka".An entire small chapter is devoted solely to describing the mystery behind this terrorist group.After its operative on the Galaxy dies, it's never mentioned again save for passing remark involving her.

- van der Berg's uncle and his contacts he is so secretive in contacting regarding Mount Zeus.

- The potentially organic matter in Halley's Comet.

- The constant and, quite frankly, annoyingly repetitious talk and descriptions about Io




A lot of areas of this book show signs of what is to come in the poorly written sequel "3001"---there is copious description and detail that ventures into the realm of opaquity, and some repetition in the form of copied passages straight from 2010, though nowhere near as pointless or recycled as in the sequel.


Ultimately, though, while it was an interesting read and loads of fun for the discoveries on Europa, it contributed nothing overall except to set up a sequel which never came.

For those of you who didn't quite get 2001, there was 2010. 2061 became too predictable.
Despite a somewhat negative technical evaluation, this book is a definate 4 for readability and entertainment value. Clarke goes to great lengths to continue to clarify what he started in 2001, the book holds your interest to make it both quick and a good read to the end. That is what a good book is all about - it was fun.

2010 brought a lot of clarity to those who didn't quite get it with 2001.Although, if you actually read 2001, Clarke does have an eye for scientific detail with a few factual anomolies.

2061 seems like he was trying to over-clarify points from his previous work (the fate of Bowman and HAL, etc.)2061 doesn't seem to have the spark that activates the readers imagination the way his previous work does; it became too predictable.

In my opinion, Clarke embarked on the path of Asimov and Herbert - great writers in their forte who I enjoy immensely; however, the more they try to develop an epilogue for a great work, the more predictable they become until either their apathy (or ghost writers ineptitude)towards the characters and plot begin to produce a script that is colored in pallor instead of an engaging prisim of mental imagry.In 2061 Clarke fell a little short in developing a construct that blurs the boundary between fact and imagination.

All of this said, it was still quite an enjoyable and informative continuation from where 2010 left off.I also think it will make a great movie some day.

The definition of Sci-Fi
I read this book without reading the others in the series but didn't have a hard time grasping what was going on. The book doesn't have a definitive ending since it is left open to the next in the series but it was enjoyable. It is complete science fiction in seemingly every way. Space ships, the fact that a person can extend their life by living on a planet other than earth, a computer that has taken on a consciousness, and extraterrestrials, although these creatures aren't ever seen. Very interesting book but only if you can wrap your head around the impossible facts provided. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from National Catholic Reporter, published by National Catholic Reporter on November 4, 2005. The length of the article is 1044 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Media and marriage: 'Good Night' examines Murrow-McCarthy clash in the 1950s; 'Squid' screenwriter revisits his parents' divorce.(MOVIES - Good Night, and Good Luck; The Squid and the Whale)(Movie Review)
Author: Joseph Cunneen
Publication: National Catholic Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 4, 2005
Publisher: National Catholic Reporter
Volume: 42Issue: 3Page: 18(1)

Article Type: Movie Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on February 6, 2009. The length of the article is 324 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: La caza de la exclusiva.(El desafîo: Frost contra Nixon)(Reseòa de pelîcula)
Author: Belên Ester Casas
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 6, 2009
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Issue: 1232Page: 68(1)

Article Type: Reseòa de pelîcula

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from National Catholic Reporter, published by Thomson Gale on July 28, 2006. The length of the article is 977 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Superhero and humble spirit: 'Superman Returns' dazzles with effects; Rossellini film portrays St. Francis.(MOVIES)(Movie review)
Author: Joseph Cunneen
Publication: National Catholic Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 28, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 42Issue: 35Page: 15(1)

Article Type: Movie review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA) on January 27, 1997. The length of the article is 604 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Eddie.
Author: Pedro Crespo
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 27, 1997
Publisher: Difusora de Informacion Periodica, S.A. (DINPESA)
Issue: n622Page: p58(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This introductory text details Arthur Lessac's proven procedures for understanding, training, and improving the voice and speech of the performer by exploring the varied qualities of the physical energies associated with producing sounds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Voice development from the inside out
If you get just one book on voice development, it certainly should be this one. As a phonetics teacher, I don't agree with every single detail in the book. But as someone who has taught English pronunciation and oral skills to ESL learners for decades, and also as a radio broadcaster, I feel a strong resonance with Lessac's approach. Differing in the details doesn't really matter, since the core of Lessac training is heightened sensitivity and slightly understated but focused control rather than specifics.

Lessac uses orchestral instruments as analogies to teach better articulation of each English consonant, e.g. the "N-violin" and the "T-snare drum drumbeat". Though impressionistic in approach, it does helps the student have an optimal quality in mind to aim for, and to pay closer attention to each internal physical event and the effect it produces.

Lessac has a fondness for coining his own jargon, like "NRG" ('energy'), "esthetic" (not "aesthetic"; 'anything that promotes sensitivity and induces awareness of sensation and perception in the body'), "kinesensic" ('intrinsic "self-to-self" sensation'), and of course the famous "Y-Buzz". The new terms are however well justified, since each figures importantly in the framework he teaches. The glossary in the back of the book can help keep everything straight. I also flipped to the index several times when trying to sort out the differences between terms like "tonal NRG" and "structural NRG" in the context of the book.

This is a solid course book, not casual reading, so take the chapters one at a time, mindfully, to reap maximum benefit from the book.

This edition is attractive and carefully edited; I found not a single typo in the whole book. My one criticism is the price. The outstanding content makes it definitely worth the cover price, but I don't see why a paperback needs to be so expensive. Like with Peter Ladefoged's A Course in Phonetics (with CD-ROM), I guess it is because it is a popular university textbook that commands a captive audience. About a third of the cover price would bring it more in line with similar editions. But that's not the author's fault, I assume, and doesn't merit taking off a star. And speaking of Ladefoged's book, it would be helpful to readers if this book included a CD-ROM as well.

A Must for Musical Theater Performers
This is probably the best technique out there for freeing and developing a strong vocal instrument for speech and singing. This is the only voice text (and I've read and studied them all: Linklater, Skinner, Berry, Rosenburgh)which gives a spicific structural breakdown for the production of healthy and tonal sound. Most other texts are just exercises, but Lessac's System gives exact physical placement for each vowel, consonant, and dipthong sound as well as extensive tonal work. Especially good for the dancer due to the strong physical emphasis of placement of the tongue, lips, jaw etc. His work on Consonant action is quite inovative, drawing on the actors imagination and assining each consonant sound to an instrument in the orchestra, thereby allowing the actor to more quickly understand the musical quality of speech. Here is a basic overview of what is covered in the text; anatomy of the vocal instrument, the alignment of the body and the economical use of muscular effort to produce sound, the use of optimum pitch to discover and develop the presence of tonality and broaden pitch and range, the use of melody and the onomatopoetic nature of language to communicate ideas, and the application of these skills to a text.

This Approach deserves 10 stars!!
I first became acquainted with Arthur Lessac's work in the 1970's when I was in Graduate School.Since then, his Approach to Voice and Body Training has been the mainstay of my professional and personal life.His new book (the third version) has been written in such a way that complements the older version, yet takes us on a training journey that is wholistically and organically fresh and new.I enjoy teaching from this book, and my students enjoy learning from it!
--Nancy Krebs, Lessac Master Teacher

Singers, pay attention to this one -
As a voice teacher for many years, I am always being complimented on my speaking voice.Arthur Lessac's book was not my speaking coach, my operatic training was - but the technique is the same.Lessac has done a masterful job explaining the "old" Italian, bel canto/good singing technique that's been around since the 1600's - but he's done it for the speaking voice. Singers need to use the same technique for both speaking and singing, and this is the best book I've found on speaking technique.

Now everyone can understand logically how to improve their speaking and singing voice, and perhaps operatic voiceswill be better understood as not being something elitist or unnatural.Using the power of your instrument to producequality sound is amazingly natural - it ain't magic.The "magic" is being given the vocal chords of an angel, inspirationfrom God, the constitution of a horse, the luck of (all) the Irish, and the intelligence of an Einstein to develop that voiceinto a Pavarotti, a Sutherland, etc.

The alpha and omega in voice
This is everything anybody (actors, speakers and liars) will ever need to know about discovering, developing and using with confidence the voice as atool to communicate. Westerners especially, I believe, have trained andmaimed their voices to suit ideals (The average woman speaks about 6 toneshigher than her natural voice prescribes). This book, a trusted trainingmanual in many theatre and opera schools, teaches practically and withoutpretence, the real abilities of the voice. This is all one needs toacquire/rediscover, with practise, how the voice can be an (extemelyflexible) extension of oneself in a physical world. A wholistic adventurewhich necessarilly encompasses correct breathing and posture, which willeventually be effortless, simply because it is natural.From an actingperspective the Arthur Lessac voice system becomes a perfect partner to theStanislavskyan system of acting (associated with 'The Method' in USA). Thepractice of the Lessac system can easily be taught to a child and hasproven successful in overcoming a stutter. This probably because thelearner is made aware of the manoeuvre-ability of sound and how it iscreated, and not only on voice as a carrier of language.The book containsmany excercises, each making one discover and realise the immense power of(self-generated) sound. Living in Africa one often wonders at the vocalpowers of its people. Westerners can also feel at one with their truevoices. The Lessac system would be the first (and last) step on the routeto rediscovery.This is a popular book (I had two copies stolen from mewhen it was out of print) amongst performers and all those who believetheir bodies are instruments. ... Read more