e99 Online Shopping Mall

Geometry.Net - the online learning center Help  
Home  - Celebrities - Summer Donna (Books)

  1-20 of 101 | Next 20
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

click price to see details     click image to enlarge     click link to go to the store

 
1. Donna Summer: An Unauthorized
$9.99
2. Quality Management: Creating and
3. Ordinary Girl: The Journey
$9.99
4. Student Solutions Manual for Quality
$73.00
5. Quality (5th Edition)
 
6. Donna Summer (Ein Heyne-Buch)
 
7. The Wanderer
8. She Works Hard For The Money
$78.88
9. Lean Six Sigma
 
$40.00
10. Donna Summer Greatest Hits On
11. Donna Summer, Live and More -
 
12. Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand,
 
13. Donna Summer : Live And More [Songbook]
$60.00
14. Quality Management (2nd Edition)
$12.01
15. BackStage with Bryan Rooney: From
$34.99
16. Six Sigma: Basic Tools and Techniques
 
17. Donna Summer, Winter Melody /
$19.95
18. Donna Summer: Her Life and Music
$29.78
19. Donna Summer Songs: Macarthur
$34.06
20. Disco: Barry White, Boney M.,

1. Donna Summer: An Unauthorized Biography
by James Haskins, J. M. Stifle
 Hardcover: 136 Pages (1983-05)
list price: US$14.95
Isbn: 0316350036
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
A biography of a talented vocalist who has performed a variety of styles of music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

5-0 out of 5 stars very interesting
i found this book at a public library 15 years ago and it is still there. i believe this book was written for preteen or teen because it was pretty thick and full of photos.it mostly covered summer's career up to 1983.i am a early donna summer fan and i really do not care for anything past the mid eighties so this book was a gem. i read it four times and i wish that i could have my own copy.it was that great.

5-0 out of 5 stars Not the last dance
The authors present a refreshing and accurate story about a very real Donna.The story really shows how driven and talented the superstar is and how she worked very hard to develop her talent despite external influences.Overall, the message the reader is left with is that Donna has always had a great deal of integrity.A lot of insight is given to the earlier stages of her life as a child, teenager, and young adult in Europe, all of which formed the foundation for her phenomenal success.A great read that ends way too soon.A sequel is definitely in order.Read this book and everything you ever thought about Donna will be turned on its ear.

5-0 out of 5 stars Tells The Story behind the Star and her Artistry
In this short, compelling book, Haskins tells the life story of Diva Donna Summer; from her humble beginnings as a childin Boston, singing in the Grant AME Baptist church and dreaming of stardom, to her budding musicaltheatre career in Germany, her first success with "Love To Love YouBaby", her loves, aspirations andmost of all, music.Thisbook separates myth from fact and shows the reader the true personunderneath the trappings of stardom.Donna Summer, touted as a sex goddesswas really a shy, private person who knew she was going to be a star butwasn't prepared for the stress and pressure of a mega career.But Summerovercomes the obstacles and in the 80's begins towards a new watermark. The only flaw with this book is it ends in 1982; that was just thebeginning for Donna. She won the Grammy in 98 for Best Dance Song,"Carry On" and she's mounting a musical play based on her life,"Ordinary Girl". But alas, you won't read any of these newerdevelopments in Haskins book. ... Read more


2. Quality Management: Creating and Sustaining Organizational Effectiveness
by Donna C.S. Summers
Hardcover: 432 Pages (2004-05-06)
list price: US$119.20 -- used & new: US$9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0132626438
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description

Designed to enable readers to recognize the cornerstones of creating and sustaining organizational effectiveness, the First Edition is based on key quality initiatives including Six Sigma, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, ISO 9000, lean manufacturing, and value creation. This book explores how quality management has progressed from an emphasis on the management of quality to a focus on the quality of managing, operating, and integrating customer service, marketing, production, delivery, information, and finance areas throughout an organization's value chain. For professionals with a career or interest in business, engineering, engineering technology, and quality management.

... Read more

3. Ordinary Girl: The Journey
by Donna Summer, Marc Eliot
Kindle Edition: 272 Pages (2003-10-07)
list price: US$24.95
Asin: B000FBJCZ8
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Ordinary Girl is legendary singer-songwriter Donna Summer’s delightfully candid memoir about her journey from singing in a Boston church to her unexpected reign as the Queen of Disco—and the tragedy and spiritual rebirth that followed.

Donna Summer was born on New Year’s Eve in Boston. Her childhood was filled with music. Inspired by Mahalia Jackson, she began singing in church choirs at the age of ten. A few years later she joined a Boston rock group, and by the end of the 1960s she was living the life of an artist in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

Soon after, Donna left the United States to join the German cast of Hair. She was still in her teens, a shy, ordinary girl who was suddenly feeling the jolt of the sexual revolution. She lived in Germany for seven and a half years, modeling, acting, falling in love, getting married, and giving birth to a daughter. She met a producer named Giorgio Moroder, and together they created a song called “Love to Love You Baby.” It became one of the world’s premier disco hits.

Donna Summer returned to America as a star, a “sex goddess” who bore little resemblance to her own sense of who she was. She describes what that personal transformation felt like from the white-hot center of the disco era, and how, over the next two decades, it contributed to a sometimes harrowing spiritual journey.

With heart and humor, Donna Summer relives the decadent days of disco and shows how she transcended them. This is the inspiring tale of an “ordinary girl” on an extraordinary journey.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

3-0 out of 5 stars And Then You Got Amnesia.......... Or What The Hell Happened?
I bought this book when it first came out as the book and The Journey 2cd set together in a boxset.Of course the cd's were fine, but then I read the book.... and when I was done I felt as if Donna suffered amnesia immediately after signing the contract to write this book.There really isn't much more for me to say that other reviewers haven't already said.HUGE, HUGE blocks of information regarding her career are missing and this book ends up reading like one of those cheap 5 page booklets you can pick up at the grocery checkout line along with HOW TOMATOES CAN HELP YOU LOSE 100 POUNDS!, etc.Donna, I'd like a refund please.

5-0 out of 5 stars Donna Summer Ordinary Girl Book review
It is a very interesting biography of Donna Summer how despite her tragic losses of her family she has used her Christian faith to keep moving forward in carrying out God's will. Nice to know about her sex symbol image that made her famous for the wrong reasons and how she has maintained her sanity despite the shortfalls of fame.

5-0 out of 5 stars Insightful, Honest, and Entertaining
I think Donna's intention here (as the title implies) was to point out, that despite her extraordinary rise to stardom, she's just an "Ordinary Girl" who happened to make it big. Never once does she come off as privileged or entitled, but instead she tells her story with great humility and gratitude for the gifts, talents, and opportunities she's been given.

As for all the criticism regarding her "breezing over" alleged remarks she made against homosexuals, what more can be said? How many times would you like her to reiterate something that happened two decades ago. Accept it or reject it, but for crying out loud get over it already! This book is supposed to be about the artist, her life and music. It wasn't intended to be a 255-page apology letter to the gay community.

That said, if you're looking for scandal or mud-slinging here, forget it. But if your interested in an engaging account of Donna Summer's life, then this book is for you. A great read!!!

2-0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Bits but Overall Disappointing
The book written by Donna Summer is a long awaited release by the Diva herself who has of late diversified her artistic talents - she's no longer the disco diva, but a painter, a song writer, a true Christian, devoted mother, and loving wife. But most importantly the book is about a journey towards a discovery of herself - the real Donna Gaines. The autobiography is an easy read and it covers the pre-disco era to 2003 when she was making a comeback to the pop scene.

Although there are bits of information that are quite interesting especially her childhood, the pre disco era and her thoughts about hermusic and image created by her producer, and her creativity as an artist, I was disappointed by the lack of focus on what fans really know her for - her music. There were two chapters of the book which explored more deeply about the genesis of "Love to Love You Baby," "Bad Girls," "She works hard for the money" -but the treatment of her creative process behind her other hits was very minimal. One would expect her to communicate in a more inspired manner on the music that made her a disco icon.

Also Donna Summer does not appear to be want to share about her falling out with the gay community after she was born again. She should have addressed this in a more candid and indepth manner but she chose to address this in one politically-correct sentence " My interactions with people have always been based solely upon their character, integrity, and ability, irrespective of their race, gender, sexual preference or religious beliefs." You can take it or leave it - spoken like a real diva. The lack of acknowledgement of the support the gay community had given her which contributed to her stardom and fame was another glaring omission in the book.

Overall the book was an easy account of her life story and it gives us a sequential up to date account of the journey of her faith and belief in herself as a person. However it lacked depth in the coverage of her music but it puts her life story in a balanced perspective of (in her own words) - "an ordinary girl." Is Donna Summer really an ordinary girl?

5-0 out of 5 stars Ordinary, Can Also be Extraordinary!
This review is late in coming, considering I waited on line back when it was released to attend a book signing, and yes I have my signed copy.

This review serves a two fold purpose, first the book.For me, a long time, fanatic follower of Donna's I really enjoyed the book as it went into great detail about her younger years, From her childhood in Boston, to her teen years, to her early years as a performer, and finally onto Europe, I learned alot about Donna that I never knew before. Her early years were truly a journey, and few other people ever work their dream this hard.
Sometimes when we form firendships as an adult, we like to learn about our friends past including their childhood. The parts of the book covering her early life filled in this information about my "friend unkown".

Her years in the USA are better known, but here we learn more about the internal workings at Casablanca, and the machine that formed to make Donna a superstar. We have heard about the stresses and trials of this time, but here Donna also shares the joys of her reign as Disco Queen.

Donna also fills in her story after she re-embraced her faith, and focused on being a full time, involved parent.
This period also was filled with many trials and tests for her, and she shares with us the good, the bad, the happy and the sad.

As I mentioned this review has a 2 fold purpose, and here it is. Donna addresses the infamous rumor, with a simple, elequent statement, "I have a true love for people" and it transends their race, sex, faith, or sexual preference.For me this represents my final word on the rumor.

Ken ... Read more


4. Student Solutions Manual for Quality
by Donna C. Summers
Paperback: 112 Pages (2009-05-31)
list price: US$14.40 -- used & new: US$9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0135067200
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Good deal
The book arrived fast and was just as described.Great to go with Textbook. ... Read more


5. Quality (5th Edition)
by Donna C. Summers
Hardcover: 912 Pages (2009-04-20)
list price: US$119.80 -- used & new: US$73.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0131592491
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description

Filled with a wide-range of industry examples, this book takes an applied approach that teaches the “why and how” behind quality assurance and statistical process control. Each chapter includes abundant case studies that show how quality tools and techniques can be combined to resolve real customer issues. This edition offers a more global view and includes at least one service industry example per chapter. Expanded treatment is also given to multi-vari analysis and failure modes and effects analysis. With its combination of clear techniques and real-world illustrations, it shows explicitly how quality tools can be used to improve outputs, productivity, costs and safety. For people who apply quality assurance tools and techniques to their day-to-day work activities.

 

 

 

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on Quality Controls
Amazing presentation of the materials.Theory, quickly followed up by examples.Case studies, real-world examples.This book is another keeper.

3-0 out of 5 stars Purchased for required class
The book arrived in good condition in a timely manner.It was the required text for a college course.

5-0 out of 5 stars Innovative and appropriate in today's world
The author makes an excellent connection between quality and ethics.Although the topic of moral may make the super left-brainers uneasy, it is an important issue.The book also points out fragmentation of today's organizations, its negative consequence on quality, and suggested solutions.

2-0 out of 5 stars Detailed, yet not well organized
This book is not written very well (its 47.2 oz weight is a testamount to that: 47.2 oz on one topic?)Book has plenty of rounding errors and is not organized very well.Some topics are not explained well, and at 47.2 oz, a lot of weight is moved in pages to figure things out.I don't recomend this book.Find a shorter one.

2-0 out of 5 stars Where is the real world?
Not the quality I would expect in a textbook titled "Quality".

It is obvious that many of the problems are pulled out of the air and not put together by subject matter experts, e.g. one on bicycles on campus, locking them up, and security. If you ride a high-end bike you will get a good laugh out of this example. This may be OK for the naive 20 year old but not the have lived around the world, work at 15 different jobs 60 year old grad student.

Formulas are put out as "Ok folks, here's the formula, use it." with no proof (this would be a good place for the appendices), just doesn't cut it when you have a degree in mathematics and have had to prove all formulas.

Many missed references to the wrong table in the appendices.

Lots of tables & charts are repeated doing nothing but making the book larger. Another great place for appendicies.

Glad I had the internet to really know what the issue in quality are. ... Read more


6. Donna Summer (Ein Heyne-Buch) (German Edition)
by Ulrich Hoppe
 Perfect Paperback: 158 Pages (1980)

Isbn: 3453800362
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

7. The Wanderer
by Donna Summer
 Unknown Binding: Pages (1980-01-01)

Asin: B003J5DPSC
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

8. She Works Hard For The Money
by Donna Summer
Hardcover: Pages (1983)

Asin: B000JPT0N4
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

9. Lean Six Sigma
by Donna C. Summers
Hardcover: 312 Pages (2010-07-24)
list price: US$89.00 -- used & new: US$78.88
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0135125103
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
A leader’s ability to manage in a complex environment is crucial to their organization’s success. Quality, productivity, and cost. Is there any organization in the world that would not want to optimize each of these three areas? Lean Six Sigma: Process Improvement Tools and Techniques presents both the principles of lean and Six Sigma and the tools and techniques that enable optimal performance. The text's many real life examples show how interrelated tools and techniques can be used to solve problems and are drawen from a wide variety of venues, including service industries like healthcare and distribution, manufacturing companies, and government. ... Read more


10. Donna Summer Greatest Hits On the Radio - Volumes I and II
 Unknown Binding: Pages
-- used & new: US$40.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B000M4NLSW
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Songs
Donna Summer's is a Artist that I have always dug and I still got a crush on her as well. her voice is Soulful and so versatile that she hasn't always gotten her full due as a All around Musical force. Her voice covers a wide range of styles and she always met the challenge. she is more than a Disco Artist. I feel that has limited her overall impact and importance as a Artist. these songs showcase a era so strongly and well. Love to Love you alone is a Classic. it was a strong groove and also the vocals are very direct and cut to the chase. on the radio, bad girl,last dance, heaven knows,etc... are all songs that still as fresh now as they did when they first came out. a must have collection from one of the most slept on Artist's ever. ... Read more


11. Donna Summer, Live and More - Vinyl LP
by Donna Summer
Vinyl: Pages (1978)

Asin: B000UGH5Z2
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

12. Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand, No More Tears
by Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand
 Vinyl: Pages (1979)

Asin: B002SBDCCW
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

13. Donna Summer : Live And More [Songbook]
by Donna Summer
 Paperback: Pages (1978)

Asin: B0013GIYN0
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

14. Quality Management (2nd Edition)
by Donna C. Summers
Hardcover: 592 Pages (2008-04-26)
list price: US$126.60 -- used & new: US$60.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0135005108
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Quality Management: Creating and Sustaining Organizational Effectiveness, Second Edition explores how quality management has progressed from an emphasis on the management of quality to a focus on the quality of managing, operating, and integrating customer service, marketing, production, delivery, information, and finance areas throughout an organization's value chain. New or updated chapters on lean, Six Sigma, ISO 9000, and supply chain management cover the latest areas that are critical to companies competing in today's global environment. Designed to enable students to recognize the cornerstones of creating and sustaining organizational effectiveness, this text is based on key quality initiatives, including Six Sigma, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, ISO 9000, lean manufacturing, and value creation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

4-0 out of 5 stars Quality Management Review
The book is well written and easily understood. The concepts are detailed and the chapters contain cases and surveys to measure the perceptions of the reader. The writer has applied the total quality management concepts to the book itself. ... Read more


15. BackStage with Bryan Rooney: From Liverpool to Ringo to Donna Summer...
by Bryan P Rooney
Paperback: 200 Pages (2008-01-01)
list price: US$16.99 -- used & new: US$12.01
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 160530851X
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Haven't you always wanted to go BackStage? Englishman Bryan Rooney is your personal guide through the highs and lows of the music business as he experienced it, starting where rock 'n' roll begain: Liverpool in the 1960s. As one of the first roadies ever, Bryan tells firsthand about life on and off the road -- and around the world -- with Procol Harum, Reinhard Mey, The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, Donna Summer, and more. Join this master storyteller as he takes you from concert riots in the Frisian Islands and Milan, through the hallways of Tittenhurst Park, to being pulled over by Malibu cops in an Excalibur with a drunken Keith Moon wearing a Nazi uniform. Celebrate Bryan's wedding with his best man Ringo Starr, and fly the Concorde with sausages for John Lennon. BackStage is your pass to this whirlwind adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

5-0 out of 5 stars Behind the British Music scene
Easy read, lot's of great stories behind the artists you know from England during the 60's.
Sad ending to his life.
Glad he wrote it and shared his moments

4-0 out of 5 stars an old friend
Bryan Rooney was a friend of mine for many years. From the 60s back in London. I last saw him at my wedding in 1998 and was saddened by his death. Glad he was at peace with it all coming down, his story is a fun and memorable one of times gone by.

5-0 out of 5 stars A Fun and Fascinating Read
For those who are musicians at heart, Beatle and/or Donna Summer fans, and want to take a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the life of a true Roadie, this book has it all.Bryan's stories are all incredibly heartfelt, and you can almost imagine yourself being with him on his adventures.I enjoyed the book very much and highly recommend it. ... Read more


16. Six Sigma: Basic Tools and Techniques (NetEffect)
by Donna C. Summers
Paperback: 416 Pages (2006-09-08)
list price: US$43.80 -- used & new: US$34.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0131716808
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
With a focus on training, "Six Sigma: Concepts, Tools and Techniques" captures the fundamentals of Six Sigma methodology and shows how to use its tools and techniques to improve customer satisfaction and business performance. Offering a practitioner's point of view, this book covers key topics such as leadership and strategic planning; creating a customer focus; quality function deployment; teams and teamwork; DMAIC problem-solving; measures and metrics; project management; statistical methods; control charts; design of experiments; reliability; failure modes and effects analysis; and lean manufacturing. Realistic industry examples support each topic and thoughtful take away tips make it an excellent industry reference. Focuses on key topics such as: *Leadership and Strategic Planning *Creating a Customer Focus, *Quality Function Deployment *Teams and Teamwork *DMAIC Problem-Solving *Measures and Metrics *Project Management *Statistical Methods *Control Charts *Design of Experiments *Reliability *Failure Modes and Effects Analysis *Lean Manufacturing. An excellent resource for anyone who is in business working with Six Sigma. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Very good!
Received my text book within a week. Fast shipment and the book was in the condition noted. ... Read more


17. Donna Summer, Winter Melody / Spring Affair - Vinyl 12" Single Record
by Donna Summer
 Vinyl: Pages (1976)

Asin: B002RZBAUA
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

18. Donna Summer: Her Life and Music
by Josiah Howard
Paperback: 208 Pages (2003-02-05)
list price: US$19.95 -- used & new: US$19.95
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0967597331
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Donna Summer dominated the American and European pop charts in the 1970s with dance music classics such as "Last Dance," "Love To Love You Baby," "I Feel Love," "Hot Stuff," and "Bad Girls" -- earning her the title "Queen of Disco." In a career which has now spanned four decades, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide, won five Grammy Awards, scored twenty Top 40 hits, and collaborated with musical giants such as Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, and Quincy Jones.

"Donna Summer: Her Life and Music" is the first book in over twenty years to examine this extraordinary performer's life and career. Author Josiah Howard provides in-depth, insightful coverage of:

The artistic and commercial high points of her recording career, including her groundbreaking 1970s hits recorded with producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte

Her pre-superstardom stage and recording work in Europe

The carefully conceived image manipulation that she and her record company employed to make her the biggest star to emerge from the disco genre

Her largely overlooked success as a songwriter, which includes many of her own hits, and even a #1 country hit recorded by Dolly Parton

Controversies which have surrounded her, including her becoming a Born Again Christian at the height of her career, and an antagonistic relationship with the gay community in the 1980s

This chronicle and analysis of Donna Summer's triumphs and setbacks -- both professional and private -- paints the definitive picture of an artist who overcame adversity, pushed musical boundaries, and created a catalog of innovative recordings that helped define an era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

3-0 out of 5 stars It Had It's Place In My Life
Before renting this book from my local library my only real awareness of Donna Summer came from her hits. I never saw her in much of an artistic context and had only a passing interest in the once proclaimed Queen Of Disco. For it's best and worst qualities this book had me digging deeper into the music of Donna Summer which,at the time of this reading was pretty readily available even on vinyl or cassette tape or whatever. Many of the descriptions of her albums and music in this book are very good and will entice most people with only a small knowledge of her musical output to seek out more of it. There are some elements of this book however that I agree with some of the other reviewers on. While author Josiah Howard doesn't indulge in a huge deal of celebrity gossip or hurtful remarks he tends to make statements somewhat open to speculation while showcasing them as undebatable fact. For example as another reviewer here pointed out very well a comment regarding the album cover for Donna's compilation album On the Radio as depicting here as "caucasion". This is something of an extention of the often bandied about misconception that disco culture didn't embrace darker skinned artists and tried to take ethnicity out of it's framework. It's a mere opinion on Josiahs part and he's entitled to it but I'll reserve any opinion on that cover to Donna herself. One thing this book did,at least for now,clear up for me regarding her trouble with the gay community. According to this book it had to do with passing remarks after early 80's concerts regarding Donna's opinions on safe sex that somehow got warped by some angry gay men resentful she'd embraced a religion that villified them that she'd declared AIDS as gods punishment to "sinnering" homosexuals. Donna never did directly comment on that and,if those be the circumstances and it's pretty believable that they are I can totally understand why she didn't. Some of the descriptions of Donna's occasional moodiness and even her well documented suicide attempt are again mildly speculative. For one Donna herself began in a very religious backround so this took away some of my questions about her heavy embrace of her Christian roots at the start of the 80's. Hey,whatever gets you off drugs and all that as far as I'm concerned. Musically this book did get me interested in at least one Donna Summer album;her than unreleased 1981 recording I'm a Rainbow which this book covers in pretty good detail and if you read this it will be something you'll probably want to seek out yourself. Shortly after reading this I went out and purchased my first full lengh Donna Summer CD I Remember Yesterday and with most people it's a decent musical primer. In terms of objective fact I would'nt read into all of this as complete,full truth telling but it's certainly one of several books on Summer one should read,including her autobiography to give yourself a fully informed view on her life and career.

4-0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
Everything that other reviewers here say about this book is completely true. It is very engaging and never boring, part gossipy, part investigative. If you only know the basics about Donna Summer, then this book is very well-researched and will satisfy you. If you're looking for more than just sugar-coated fluff, this book is well-worth it, too. She's had a full, incredible life that spans decades, countries, and love affairs. Each milestone and turning point is presented clearly and given its due importance. The book also goes into detail about the recording process and public reception of each and every album and almost every single she made up until the millennium. As a huge fan of her music, this was a true treat for me and I enjoyed these parts the most. I personally feel that Donna Summer not participating in the book can be seen as a good thing. To me, it keeps her at a distance, to be assessed more objectively. Past quotes sum up her state-of-mind at a given era so much better than retrospective ones. That being said, Josiah Howard stops to insert his biased opinions and assumptions way too much. This MAY be forgivable if he had limited this to reviewing her music and performances, but all too often he targets her physical appearance. Donna Summer looks white on the cover of 'On The Radio'? Preposterous! To me, she looks like a light-brown black woman. And to the next person perhaps something else entirely. And I didn't need him to tell me that she looks like a drag queen on the back of Four Seasons of Love or like Big Bird on the Live & More jacket sleeve. Really tacky. He also keeps reinforcing that her hairstyles were wigs, which I thought was unnecessary and insensitive. It's like constantly mentioning someone's falsies. On a side note, since he was analyzing her photographs so much, he should've at least INCLUDED most of them in his book to enhance the reading experience. To spend so much time talking about things that were never shown was very unsatisfying for me. I can always try to find the pics myself, but a reader shouldn't have to do that. There are, though, a few beautiful, full-page portraits of her at different stages inside. Musically speaking, he claims that Dinner With Gershwin didn't have a true hook, which I STRONGLY disagree with (it actually has two fantastic hooks in both the bridge and the chorus). Conversely, I didn't find the There Goes My Baby remake "thrilling" in the least nor did I find the arrangement "fine"; I thought the song was mostly tired and vocally over-indulgent- a rarity for Donna Summer. The point is that opinions are just that, opinions, and really undermines the integrity of a biography.

Another thing is Josiah Howard seems to be annoyed anytime Donna Summer recorded music that wasn't considered black-oriented (like Rock, the SAW-productions, etc). He keeps examining her "alienating" relationship with the black community as it pertains to her musical releases and fashion choices. What I find most interesting, though, is given his attention to those things, he barely examines the obvious fact that Ms. Summer has overwhelming chosen white lovers and husbands, not only during her European years, but well after she returned to the U.S. Odd. I felt that he addresses her born-again transformation and the alleged homophobia it inspired as well as he could've. This is one chapter where his personal opinions appear the least, and I think he treated his subject both kindly and objectively.

All-in-all, this is a book that's not perfect, but one I will read again. I read Ordinary Girl first, which I did like even though it was a rushed feel-good effort that omitted any insight into her music-making experiences. Donna Summer: Her Life and Music has an edge and an attention to detail that I fully appreciated. Both books together go very well together.

2-0 out of 5 stars This Book Is Loaded with Unfounded Statements of Opinion
This book contains hundreds of sentences, hundreds of paragraphs, and whole chapters of nothing but the author's unfounded opinions. (I have my own opinions, and I didn't need to read all of his.)
In some places, on some pages, this book acted like a well-documented biography that quoted actual sources - published sources, interviews with pertinent people, but in the majority of it, it just repeated the author's opinions as facts - and fortunately, I am intelligent to recognize that kind of baloney when I see it.

The author also engages in a whole heap of unfounded slamming of Ms. Summer - putting together nasty statements about her for no reason at all. He also spends a greatly excessive amount of verbage discussing the covers (and other photographs) for Ms. Summer's albums, etc., - for no reason at all except that it gives the author more opportunities to take cheap shots at Ms. Summer.

For example, he goes on and on about how on the cover of an album ("On the Radio"), Ms. Summer is made out to look like a "white woman". Not only is that dirty mud-slinging, but it is also unscientific, since almost all people - white, black, Asian, American Indian, etc., have skin color that changes over the months of the year, and from year to year, depending on how much sunshine that they have been exposed to. (I happen to know Asian Indians who have lived in the United States for a number of year, but then they went back to India for a couple of months in the summertime. They exclaimed, "We can't believe how dark we got while we were in India." There are plenty of more examples.)

Also, much of the text in this book seems to have been written by a college freshman, or lower, rather than a supposed graduate of the New York University. For example, unnecessary hyperboles are used all the time. For a more specific example, rather then describing something as being "large", they author expressed himself by "massive" or "humongous". (If this book had been written a few years later, he would have written "gignormous".) Furerthmore, lots of unnecessary and obscure jargon is used, such as "mixed down". What does that mean?

All in all, this book strikes me as being quite amateurishly written, and I am quite surprised that his editors and his publishers allowed this book to be printed and published without a great deal of rewriting first. Actually, he needed to be told to "go back to the drawing board", do a lot more research, and to carry out a lot of interviews before they would consider publishing it. This book might have rated an "B" as a freshman English composition or music course term paper, but it certainly is not a professionally-written biography.

DAW

1-0 out of 5 stars This is RUBBISH
Having known Donna since teaching her children in preschool through high school age, I am appalled at what is written here. IF you are interested in Donna's life thenread Ordinary Life and leave it at that. Donna truly is one of the sweetest people in "celebrity life" that I have encountered. And its really upsets me when these kinds of books are written as a informational book. SAVE your money!!

4-0 out of 5 stars Once Upon A Time...
This book is a very interesting read as long as you take it all with a grain of salt. Josiah Howard writes the book as though it was an in-depth feature length article, rather than an unauthorized biography.

Pulling info from articles, interviews, and tv shows, Howard weaves a spell-binding tale of the rise and fall of Donna Summer.

Though at times it seems as if the author is bashing the artist, Howard comes to those conclusions based on Summer's actions. Whether or not Summer's intentions are in line with his findings, we'll never know, until she writes a no holes-barred biography that doesn't just skim the surface.

"Oridinary Girl," isn't it. There are still things that Summer will not talk about including the "AIDS and Gays" controversy, instead using her charitable work for AIDS organizations to to speak for themselves, but Howard provides a play-by-play run down.

The book includes a bibliography, discography(including singles and album info), and TV appearances/specials. If you're looking for a book that's a page turner, giving a glimpse into the life of a legend, than this is it.

Donna Summer has led a fascinating life proving time and again that she is no "oridnary girl" and Howard lays it all out in this book. ... Read more


19. Donna Summer Songs: Macarthur Park, I Feel Love, Could It Be Magic, La Vie En Rose, Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus, No More Tears
Paperback: 214 Pages (2010-10-25)
list price: US$29.78 -- used & new: US$29.78
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1157682618
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Commentary (music and lyrics not included).Chapters: Macarthur Park, I Feel Love, Could It Be Magic, La Vie En Rose, Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus, No More Tears, State of Independence, Love to Love You Baby, This Time I Know It's for Real, Hot Stuff, I Will Go With You, Last Dance, Love Is in Control, There Goes My Baby, Bad Girls, She Works Hard for the Money, Does He Love You, Dim All the Lights, on the Radio, Protection, I Don't Wanna Get Hurt, Stamp Your Feet, the Power of One, Try Me, I Know We Can Make It, I'm a Fire, Love Is the Healer, Whenever There Is Love, Heaven Knows, the Wanderer, Cold Love, Never Lose Your Sense of Humor, Dinner With Gershwin, Rumour Has It, the Woman in Me, Down Deep Inside, Fame, Unconditional Love, Walk Away, Winter Melody, Melody of Love, Carry On, I Got Your Love, I Remember Yesterday, Denver Dream, the Hostage, Love's About to Change My Heart, Breakaway, I Love You, Shut Out, Spring Affair, Love's Unkind, Back in Love Again, Can't We Just Sit Down, Sunset People, Stop, Look and Listen, Work That Magic, Dream-A-Lot's Theme, You're So Beautiful, Eyes, When Love Cries, Fairy Tale High, Love Has a Mind of Its Own, It's Only Love, Only the Fool Survives, Supernatural Love, When Love Takes Over You, Who Do You Think You're Foolin', Any Way at All, All Systems Go, He's a Rebel, in Another Place and Time, People, People, Virgin Mary. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 213. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: "MacArthur Park" is a song that was written by Jimmy Webb. Originally written as part of an intended cantata, it was rejected by The Association, it was first recorded by Richard Harris in 1968 and then covered by many other performers. One of the best known covers of the song is Donna Summer's disco arrangement from 1978. Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, and Wo...http://booksllc.net/?id=1458258 ... Read more


20. Disco: Barry White, Boney M., Donna Summer, Marc Cerrone, Ernesto Djédjé, Sheila, Linda Clifford, Amanda Lear, the Pointer Sisters (French Edition)
Paperback: 376 Pages (2010-07-28)
list price: US$44.82 -- used & new: US$34.06
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1159451605
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Barry White, Boney M., Donna Summer, Marc Cerrone, Ernesto Djédjé, Sheila, Linda Clifford, Amanda Lear, the Pointer Sisters, John Travolta, the Jackson Five, Alcazar, the Bee Gees, Chic, Thelma Houston, Patrick Juvet, Earth, Wind and Fire, Patrick Hernandez, Ashford ... Read more


  1-20 of 101 | Next 20
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Prices listed on this site are subject to change without notice.
Questions on ordering or shipping? click here for help.

site stats