Product Description
Blaine’s Challenge!
————————————————————————————————

A never-before-attempted challenge to readers everywhere!
WIN $100,000.00
Hidden throughout the volume now in front of you are secret little signals, clues, and codes that,
once understood and deciphered, will lead to the discovery of a
Treasure!!
Which has been hidden somewhere within the confines of the continental United States of America.
Where is it? Who Will find it?
We Can’t Say!
——————————————
This challenge has been created and sponsored by the world’s greatest mystifier . . .
DAVID BLAINE
who was
Buried Alive
For Seven Days and Seven Nights.
The one and same who became
the world’s ONLY LIVING ICE CUBE in world-famous Times Square
and who . . .
stood as still as a statue
10 stories above Manhattan
only to
leap to his life below.
—————————————

The book in your hands now
Reveals
Some of David Blaine’s most closely guarded SECRETS. Such as
WHO IS HE?

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?

HOW DOES HE DO IT?

The reader will also
LEARN a multitude of inside SECRETS with which he or she too can mystify anyone.

THE MYSTERIOUS MR. BLAINE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY
WILL READ YOUR THOUGHTS THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD

“A latter-day Houdini.” —The New York Times

“The hottest name in magic.”— USA Today

HIS SECRETS WILL BECOME YOURS
——————————————————————————————


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Fantastic- photos, text, interest level
I loved the book. Great photos, history, biography, magic tricks, social commentary, motivational messages, thrill-seeking and dangerous action... FANTASTIC writing, a quick read- because I couldn't put the book down. There was a background overview of magic in general and autobiographically interesting topics. Buy it for the photos, buy it if you are a magic- loving hobbyist, buy it if you're an entertainer or if you work with or enjoy being around people. Buy it if you can't stand people and want to understand people who enjoy being around other people. Buy it if you are interested in history, geography, world studies... Buy it if you get a thrill from reading about someone else's failures and insecurities. It's an honest and entertaining book, written by a strong thinker and expert communicator.

This book is amazing
This book is a mind-blower.Open it anywhere and start reading (which is how I read a lot, I'm pretty ADD) and you'll have a hard time putting it down.Each time I open the book, I end up sitting there with my jaw dropping open, and saying "Holy @#$%&*! Listen to this!", a lot.Blaine talks about magic in history, about the most astounding magicians and their lives, about the dedication it takes to do this.He talks about his own life, and his travels and some really bizarre stuff he's seen and done. After seeing footage of him on the street, I had come to the conclusion that he was from another planet.Evidently he's not really magic or non-human.One thing I'm getting out of this book is what an extraordinary amount of dedication and passion magicians have, and just how many thousands of hours it takes them to get this good.This book is really fascinating.Plus, who knew the guy could write so well, too?

Geared more toward young adult fans
This book was ok. I felt it was really written for young fans who might want to follow his footsteps. There is a bit of history here, as if to show Blaine is respectful of the past masters and not cocky. Not completely dull, I remember he does give a least one simple trick as a bone,but not extremly compelling - perhaps that is part of the point, the craft is not all glamour and is laden with repetitive training & hard work. Try to get it at the public library unless you are a fanatic about this guy.

Amazing book,this guy is awsome
super interesting book, nice jurney in David Blaine mind,and his magik, he is defenatly special

Great Book
Very cool book, a good buy at a great price
David Blaine is very interesting ... Read more

Product Description
According to Mike Close in his "Marketplace" column in the June 1997 issue of Magic Magazine, " . . . all thecurrent self-levitations have their basis in two articles published by Karl Fulves. The first titled "Impromptu Levitation" can be found in the July1974 issue of the Pallbearer's Review (Volume 9, Number 9, page 755.) Ed Balducci is credited in the article, but he explains that he was shown the methodby Erwin Levine, who was one of the Harmonicats. Mr. Levine had no idea who the originator was." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

no good
After delivery to my kindle, the text was all out of order and confusing to read. Don't buy. ... Read more

Product Description
“David Blaine’s poetry combines the wry sophisticated take on life of the best traditional poetry with the suppressed anger of the outsider. And they are reflexive in a way that totally pisses on the “I’m drinking whiskey and pounding the keys like a mofo” poetry we have come to expect of the small press.”
–David McLean, poet, critic and editor with Epic Rites Press
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not politically correct, but...
If you're looking for poetry with bite, this collection is for you.Blaine is not afraid to describe his version of the world.No apologies, no pulled punches, no tap dancing.And yet there are soft moments, like "That Human Disease" which paints a conflicted portrait of a man's tie to his deceased father through the enjoyment of tobacco.And "They Looked Like Trash" which explores multiple perceptions of beauty.

Blaine says in "The Truth (Really)":Still, I longed to tell you about the truth the way I saw it...

To which I say:I've glimpsed truth the way you see it, David.It isn't mine, but it is well told. ... Read more

Product Description
Find David Blaine's Mega Magic. ... Read more

Product Description
Stimulating and accessible, the titles in the LIVEWIRE series have been produced in association with The Basic Skills Agency to ensure a non-patronising approach towards the requirements of readers with special needs. They provide teenagers/adult interest level fiction and non-fiction for those with reading ages below 10, or adult students learning English as a second language. Each book is graded at one of the following reading ages: 6--7, 7--8, 8--9 or 9--10. All LIVEWIRE books are written by qualified Special Needs teachers, and are expertly assessed and subtly colour-coded for the appropriate reading age. The books in the LIVEWIRE REAL LIVES strand contain fascinating stories of popular music stars, famous Hollywood actors, TV personalities and top sports people. REAL LIVES DAVID BLAINE tells the story of this extraordinary street magician. ... Read more

Product Description
Ever wonder what it would be like to be the most recorded musician in popular music? This updated bestselling autobiography spotlights Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and drummer extraordinaire Hal Blaine and his remarkable life experiences. From the Sinatras to the Beach Boys, Blaine drumrolled through the'50s, '60s and '70s, driving over 40 songs to the Number One slot. His works with Phil Spector and the Wrecking Crew sessions, his touring experiences and other hitmaking pressure sessions are amusingly revealed in this rare glimpse into a golden age of music. Exclusive scrapbook photos round out this biography to provide an entertaining and educating book for musicians and fans alike. The update brings his life into the 21st century, including info on his inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, dealing with Spector's infamous trials, and recently, the renewed interest in his golden era of recording with the documentary film on the Wrecking Crew and all the new wave of accolades that followed. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Ever wonder what it would be like to be the most recorded musician in popular music? This biography spotlights Hal Blaine, drummer extraordinaire, and his life experiences. From the Sinatras to the Beach Boys, Blaine drumrolled through the '50s, '60s and '70s, driving over 40 songs to the number one slot. His works with Phil Spector and the Wrecking Crew sessions, his touring experiences and other hitmaking pressure sessions are amusingly revealed in this rare glimpse of a golden age. Exclusive scrapbook photos round out this biography to provide an entertaining and educating book for musicians and fans alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Hard to disagree with other 2 or 3 star reviews
I grew up in the 60's, so I saw Hal Blaine's name on the back of a lot of album covers.When I found this book I was anxious to read it.Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot that I hadn't already read in magazines.I passed the book onto my drumset instructor who is about 20 years my junior also holds a Masters Degree in Music.His comment to me was pretty much "here's this guy who was part of one of the most significant albums of the 20th Century (Pet Sounds), and he makes almost no mention of it".That essentially sums up this book.The books is basically fluff meant to appeal to the fans like me.My word of advice if you're serious about owning it. Don't pay list, or you'll be overpaying.

Greatest Missed Opportunity
Hal Blaine must have lived the most hectic life considering that his sessions were so numerous, most databases only list his #1 songs or only his Top Tens. His body of work is just that vast!! But this book never portrays, say, a day in the life of the busiest studio musician of his time. The book was done in the lamest, laziest of ways where choronology isn't even considered. Blain and his writer divvy up the book into chapters about whatever artist he happened to work with. It is one of the greatest opportunities missed because Blaine didn't want to actually do the work that a comprehensive bio would have required. The book was done so cheaply that the typos are too numerous to mention. (such as the number "1" appearing instead of the first-person pronoun "I' in some instances) Lame! Lame! Lame! Do not buy this book!!! You will be thoroughly disappointed. For Shame Mr. Blaine! For Shame!

Yes, it is disappointing
I have to say I ignored the negative reviews and hoped for the best.As a drummer and musicologist, I hoped and expected that Blaine's unique behind the scenes view of 30+ years of popular music-making would be enlightening.As others have already said, it's pretty light on content.And if you are looking for any kind of technical insights (from a drummer or musician's point of view), forget it, there are none to speak of. That said, it is a quick and easy read, entertaining for the most part, and the photo section is pretty cool.But as a musician's book (reader and author) it is by and large, a disappointment.Now I'm going to take the other guy's advice and buy the Earl Palmer book!

Hal deserves better than this
Considering the amount of experience Hal has recording with some of the top names in music in the '60s and '70s, I expected a lot more. He glosses over the stories and facts, hardly ever going into much detail. I blame the co-writer. He should have prompted Hal to dig deeper into the old memory banks. And to call this a "book" is almost a joke. A 12-year-old with a G3 iMac could have done a better job. There are typos on nearly every page and even one page with a pasted-over paragraph inserted! There were some good stories, yes, but the whole thing just lacks the proper dues this man should have been accorded.

Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew
Hal Blaine is renowned globally as the greatest studio drummer of all time; surely this credit can be modified to "greatest studio musician" without any rational argument. Blaine set the standard for all who followed, much as he held the pulse of a music within the grip of his hands.

In this book, Blaine offers us a wonderful insight into his own life, from humble working class beginnings to the first-call status he's known for---West Coast drummer to the stars. As a drummer myself, I have always admired the hell out of this man---it took me a few years to realize that many of my favorite rock and pop drummers were actually Blaine, for he usually went uncredited in liner notes. This book brings to mind many of the tracks he immortalized, from the hits of the Beach Boys and the Byrds to the Mamas and the Papas, the Carpenters and beyond. Frank Sinatra called on Blaine for his 1960s classics whenever they had even the slightest pop-rock feeling (think "That's Life", "The Summer Wind", "Something Stupid", etc) and he was also heard in most of Elvis' hits from the movies. Phil Spector's 'wall of sound' had Blaine written all over it (remember those huge drum fills on the fade-outs?). Truly, you cannot conceive of most US-produced hit records in the period bridging 1958 and 1975 without Hal Blaine driving the whole thing.

Blaine also led the loose studio band known as "the Wrecking Crew". Here was a hand-picked collective which included bass players like Carol Kaye (the most recorded bassist in history) and Joe Osborne, guitarists Tommy Tedesco, Barney Kesseland Glen Campbell, keyboard players including Leon Russel and Larry Knechtal and so many others. Jack Nitsche arranged and sometimes Blaine even brought in drummer Earl Palmer to augment the sound (ha! the Batman theme is a good example of the powerhouse sound they created in tandem). Together these musicians would change the vision of the studio musician for all time, morphing it from from suit-and-tie older caucasion men, to a wide variety of faces, sounds and styles. Blaine's musicians wore jeans and tees to work and while most of them had serious musical training and backgrounds that included jazz, they embraced the new generation of rock musicians, adding compelling accompaniments and collaborated with them to produce the music that would speak for the future of the record industry.

The information found within the pages of HAL BLAINE AND THE WRECKING CREW is invaluable to musicians, collectors and historians, however it is unfortunate that Blaine chose to offer it all up in a conversational manner, that which usually excludes specific dates and personnel of these immortal sessions. His memories are often sentimental remembrances, which give the reader a great inside view yet leaves one wishing--always--for more. Blaine breaks down his career into segments, including whole chapters on his work with certain recording artists. Yet, the details are never uniform. He does give specifics on some of the sessions with Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, as well as his close collaborations with John Denver (including touring in the latter's case), but this book could easily have included a companion volume which offers us a detailed scenario of the sessions, musicians, and songs. This music is far too important to be left to a simple remembrance, regardless of how welcoming that may be.

Still, I offer this book as a 3 star title on the basis of the information provided within. And the book opens with a listing of every top-10 hit Blaine played on between the late 50s and early 70s. Scanning over it, one is in awe of the man's sheer tenacity in the studio. Clearly, he was in the driver's seat of a generation's soundtrack, and his story is one to ponder and enjoy. But with any luck, a musical historian will sit down with Blaine and go over all of his well-kept files (Blaine has records of every session he's been on; his actions with the Musicians Union is also famous as he set the standard for proper pay scales and royalties for all studio players). Buy HAL BLAINE AND THE WRECKING to make a statement on just how important it is to have masterful, varied performances on popular music recordings, regardless of genre. His story is our story, no matter which side of the turn-table we were sitting on...
-John Pietaro is a musician, activist and writer from New York- www.flamesofdiscontent.org ... Read more

Product Description
Neil is the epic, pointless, and funny story of a guy named Neil. His adventure starts when he argues with himself and falls into some quicksand, then things get bad. He meets up with Steve, a guy who got flushed down a toilet. Later in the book he meets a talking coconut with an identity crisis.

If all the characters he meets weren't bad enough, all through the story he goes to odd locations ranging from, the Bermuda Triangle, Nebraska and even the future.

If you want to know more about the book, buy it. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: David Blaine, Martin Gardner, Harry Houdini, Orson Welles, Bill Bixby, James Randi, Raymond Smullyan, Jason Alexander, Persi Diaconis, David Copperfield, Jim Steranko, Anton Zamloch, Neil Patrick Harris, Penn Jillette, Richard Turner, Arthur Kurzweil, Dorothy Dietrich, Penn ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: David Blaine, Geraldo Rivera, Joaquin Phoenix, Jewish Immigration to Puerto Rico, Brenda K. Starr, Hila Levy, Manny Lehman, Raphy Leavitt, Micol Ostow, Rachel Ticotin, Ari Meyers, Raquel Castro, Julio Kaplan, Axel Anderson, Mathias Brugman, Jorge Seijo, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Nina Tassler, Sahaj. Excerpt:Ari Meyers Ari Meyers (born April 6, 1969) is an actress, probably best known for her role as Emma Jane McArdle in the Kate ... Read more

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Word count: 1762. ... Read more

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Chapters: David Blaine, Harry Houdini, Andy Kaufman, Yoko Ono, Annie Sprinkle, Laurie Anderson, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Blue Man Group, Carolee Schneemann, Barbara Rosenthal, Jeffree Star, Jonathon Keats, Cynthia Von Buhler, John Duncan, the Yes Men, Hedwig Gorski, Miranda July, Ryan Avery, Joe Hayes, Joe Bob Briggs, Clint Catalyst, Robert Delford Brown, Allan Kaprow, Frank Chu, Raphael Montañez Ortíz, Coco Fusco, Diamanda Galás, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Sharon Cheslow, Wafaa Bilal, Steve Lambert, Perry Hoberman, Irene Moon, Ragan Fox, Paul Mccarthy, Steve Kurtz, Linda Montano, Bob Geary, K8 Hardy, Ray Johnson, Nicole Blackman, David Ippolito, Damali Ayo, Howard Fried, Rich Ferguson, Monotrona, Aaron Detroit, Chris Burden, Vito Acconci, Erika Chong Shuch, William Pope.l, Finnegan the Poet, Ken Choy, Rachel Rosenthal, Peter Max Lawrence, Erika Lopez, Scott Kildall, Tehching Hsieh, Daniela Sea, Charlyne Yi, Roil, Karen Finley, Tav Falco, Vaginal Davis, Stuart Sherman, Mr. Pacman, Qi Peng, Ron Athey, Andrea Fraser, Tim Miller, Squonk Opera, Larry Moss, Terry Wolverton, Gronk, Kim Jones, Sherry Glaser, Michael Portnoy, Fudgie Frottage, Dan Kwong, Suzanne Lacy, Lady Circus, Richard Bluestein, Jack Goldstein, Troy Dean Harris, Frank Moore, S. Bear Bergman, Hasan M. Elahi, Andrew Franck, Kate Bornstein, Heather Macallister, Danny Hoch, Lee Walton, the Kipper Kids, Wendy Wild, Antonio Sacre, Joey Arias, Dan Fishback, Rocco Silano, Wynne Greenwood, Maureen Fleming, John Sex, S. K. Thoth, Rachel Martin, Nick Cave, Charlotte Moorman, Kalup Linzy, Trauma Flintstone, Hillary Carlip, Dorothy Podber, Nao Bustamante, Puppet Bike, James Luna, Art of Bleeding, Allan Von Schenkel, Barbara T. Smith, Midori, Mike Bidlo, Igor Vamos, Timothy Laszlo Sandor, Liz Cohen, Amy Hill, Deb Margolin, Derrick Fludd, Mark Pauline, Lorraine O'grady, Cassandra Tribe, Hattie Gossett, Tanya O'debra, Joan Hotchkis, John C. Goss, Valery Oişteanu, Larry Wright,...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=34350 ... Read more