This is a group of short stories and poems about life in present-day Hollywood, as seen from the bottom looking up.

Alex is a native of Sarajevo who found himself in Los Angeles by way of Brussels and Chicago (plus an Army stint in Vietnam). He had writing in his blood, and figured L.A. was the place to go. While amassing rejection slips, he worked a variety of jobs, including furniture moving, painting apartments, TV repos and delivering phone books door-to-door.

Much of the book concerns his experiences behind the wheel of a taxi. Some of those he meets are decent, reasonable people; others can be described in terms much less complimentary. One day, an older woman gets into his cab and says that she is Maria Callas, the international opera star. The only problem is that Maria Callas died several months previously. When apprised of the fact, "Ms. Callas" gets very angry and belligerent and refuses to pay her fare. She is taken away by the police.

Later in the book, Alex sells his cab and goes in with some friends on the making of a horror film to break into the video market. Called Bloodsucking Geeks (written by Alex), the budget can best be described as tiny. All of the video distributors are either not interested, or they want total control on a vague promise of future payment. After several months, with no job and no money to buy a cab and return to the streets, Alex finds himself experiencing involuntary dieting (also called starvation).

City of Angels? Maybe for that couple of percent of people who get anywhere near that thing called "fame and fortune." Everyone else is just trying to get by in a place where, if you don't have the right job and a flashy car, the odds are very much stacked against you.

This book is excellent. It's full of honest, heartfelt writing that certainly shows a very different view of Hollywood. It's also highly recommended.

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This book attempts to make some sense of the seemingly intractable Arab-Israel conflict. The first part looks at present conditions in Israel and the Occupied Territories. There is a look at the wars Israel has fought since independence. Also explored are Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, occupied since 1967 by Israel. Maps show the number of Jewish settlements, and, in the Golan Heights, the number of depopulated Syrian villages. For instance, in Gaza, less than 7,000 Israelis live among 1.2 million Palestinians (mostly refugees), comprising less than 1 percent of the population, but Israel controls one-third of the land.

Most of the book is taken up with the history of the region since Abraham, almost 4,000 years ago. In brief chapters, the author talks about Abraham being the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Exodus took the Israelites out of Egypt and into the desert before they reached the Promised Land. It talks about the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Persians, all of whom ruled the area at one time or another. It certainly talks about the time of Christ. Also considered are the destruction of the Temple, the coming of Islam, the Crusades, the Turks, the Ottoman Empire, the years of the UN Mandate, all the way to Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon.

The author, a teacher of physical and political geography at the university level for many years, says that the only way out of the never-ending violence is for both sides to negotiate a settlement. It certainly won't be easy, but there is no alternative.

This one is well worth reading. Some will say that the subjects in this book are covered much too briefly; it isn't meant to be a detailed reference book. Combining history, politics and travel, the author also does an excellent job of not taking sides in what is a very divisive issue. To get an idea of the history of the Middle East before Israel's independence and even before Zionism, this book is the place to start.

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On the way, she just happens to meet people who are most able to help her get to Achaala, despite there being no available places to stay because of a major religious festival going on at the time. Is it coincidence, or Spirit giving her a hand? She gets to Achaala, and meets Swamis Ji and Sharosh, and their followers. She is overwhelmed by the amount and intensity of unconditional love that she receives. Everyone seeks that undefinable IT that would make their lives spiritually complete. If the love, and instruction, that she received at the ashram wasn't IT for Ann, it was very close.

Eventually, the time came to leave the ashram. Ann decided to spend a few days on the beaches of Goa, in the south of India. It's as if Spirit isn't finished with her, continuing to open her eyes to new ways of looking at the world around her. Back in California, she realizes that things have changed, not least of which is getting a divorce (she and her husband were moving in different emotional directions).

For anyone seeking spiritual fulfillment in their lives (isn't that most or all of us?), this book is a must read. Everyone will take different paths to reach IT, this is one person's journey. It's more than just a book on Eastern religion. It's well done, interesting, and on more than one level, it's really recommended.

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One of the first rules is to keep a positive attitude. Everyone has heard of the *Chicken Soup for the Soul* book series. Over 130 different publishers rejected the first book. Most people would have given up long before this point. The editors stuck with it until someone finally said Yes. The series has now reached 37 books, all bestsellers, and has sold 68 million copies.

Seek out opportunities and act on them. Always carry business cards, because a new client will show up in the least likely place. Do at least five marketing actions every day (making phone calls, amiling postcards, etc). Build a strong group of alliances. Use the internet. Apply for and win awards; mak up your own awards and publicize them. Keep in front of your target audience on a regular basis, and never let them forget that you exist. If you're an author promoting your book (even if it is self published), do your own book tour. If you're new in town, get to know people by volunteering. Make your piece of direct mail the one that gets opened, while the others get trashed. Last but not least: network, network, network!

This book is not meant just for entrepreneurs or other business people. One of the stories is about a married couple who shamelessly promoted themselves as a childless couple willing to adopt, a campaign that was ultimately successful.

No matter who, or what, is being promoted, this book is a must. It is full of tips that anyone, even beginners, can do to create financial and business success. To those who are nervous about taking that first marketing step, reading this book should be your first step.

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Abuse can take many different forms, from name-calling to hitting, all the way to rape. The victims are left with feelings of shame, low self-esteem into adulthood and worthlessness. They are threatened by the perpetrator with grievous bodily harm or the breakup of the family if they tell.

There are a number of causes of sibling abuse. The usual cause is violence in the media that children see every day. Another major reason for sibling abuse is the model presented by the parents. Do they constantly belittle or try to injure each other? In such a household, how can abuse not be transferred from the parents to the children? How can a child, having been abused by an older sibling, not turn around and do it to a younger sibling?

Parental reaction is most important. When confronted with an accusation of abuse, one reaction is to say that the victim must have deserved it. If the accusation is one of sexual abuse, the victim must have enjoyed it. Other parental reactions include ignoring the abuse, responding inconsistently or inappropriately, indifference or even joining in the abuse. No wonder victims frequently don't talk about their abuse for many years.

The best thing parents can do is listen to their children. Only a small percentage of abuse allegations turn out to be false. The author also advocates the SAFE method (Stop the abuse; Assess the situation, both facts and feelings; Find out what will keep the abuse from happening again; Evaluate the solution and alter it if necessary).

Perhaps one of the causes of the epidemic of violence in America is discussed in this book. Read it if you're a parent who thinks that abuse is happening in your home. Read it if you think you're an abuse survivor, then give this book to your parents. Everyone else should also read this book.

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Humans and chimps have many behavioral similarities, among them, organization by group, territorial defense, xenophobia toward strangers and the ability to experience pain and fear. Human behavior reflects general primate behavior, which goes along with general evolutionary theory.

If every case of aggression between two individuals, of any species, led to the death of one of the aggressors, that species would quickly disappear. Many species have found less dangerous ways to show aggression, like ritualized fighting, threat behavior and remotivating displays. The human equivalent is things like a show of military strength and Us vs Them (anyone not part of the "group" is an outsider, and therefore subhuman). Under the stresses of war, the veneer of civilization leaves our consciences, so even the most cultured individuals are capable of committing atrocities.

It could be thought that concepts like a pecking order in society, or dominance and submission are products of our modern world, especially the 1980s yuppie days. All over the animal kingdom, there are examples of a dominant individual heading a group. Did you know that human forms of greeting and the offering of food and drinks to guests are acts of appeasement to inhibit aggression?

Why do women wear lipstick, and why is it red (not blue or orange)? The reader can find out the answer for themselves, but it has to do with the rear end of a female chimp.

This book is surprisingly good. It's short, and it presents science and human behavior in very easy to understand terms. It's even recommended for those who think that they hate science. This is well worth reading.

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Time is a very funny thing; everyone gets the same amount per day. Rich people do not get more than poor people. It's not possible to go the store and buy time. Out of that 24 hours per day, everyone must carve out a life (marriage, family, work, hobbies, religion, etc).

This book was written in a time and place (England of the early 1900s) where everyone took the train to work. One of the author's suggestions is to use that time concentrating on one thing; it doesn't matter what it is. If your mind starts wandering, hook a leash to it and bring it back. I'm not sure how well this would work today, when everyone drives to work. You say you can't concentrate for very long? Having to give a big presentation at work, or final exams in school, does a wonderful job of focusing the mind.

Then comes the evening, after the reader has gotten home from work. If this book had been written today, the author might say that occasionally vegging out in front of the TV is not a bad thing, but don't be like the average American, who does it for several hours a day, every day. Take, say, two hours a night, three nights a week, for a total of six hours. Use that time to learn a subject about which the reader is passionate, a hobby or interest. The subject can be literally anything, from A to Z. If a big subject like history is chosen, it's allowable to narrow it down to, for instance, the French Revolution or the Vietnam War. If a subject like classical music is chosen, go to an occasional concert or try your hand at playing an instrument. Again, if this book was written today, the author might say to use the internet to research your topic, but stay away from the chat rooms. During your learning time (for lack of a better term), lay off the popular novels. The author has nothing against them, but the idea is to give your brain a workout; novels don't do that. Most of all, take your time. The worst thing a person can do is burnout.

This book is small, but mighty. It says a lot, and it's the sort of book that can be used by everyone, from one end of society to the other. Not enough time in the day? Not after reading this gem.

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A young woman named Web (because of her webbed fingers)is a member of the Kumeyaay, a tribe living near present-day San Diego. It's marriage time, and Web is taken to another Kumeyaay band, several days journey away, to meet her new husband, Shadow Dancer. Because of her webbed fingers, the reception is not pleasant. In the beginning, Shadow Dancer wants nothing to do with Web. Another woman in the band, Crooked Basket, who can't deal with not becoming Mrs. Shadow Dancer, makes Web's life as difficult as possible. One day, Web catches Shadow Dancer and Crooked Basket having an affair. Casts No Shadow, the band's shaman, and Shadow Dancer's father, makes it clear that the affair shall stop-now.

Around this time, the paleskins (Spanish) arrive in their giant canoes. Some of the other Kumeyaay bands advocate ignoring the Spanish, figuring that they'll leave, while others say Attack Now. An attack is launched, which turns into a disaster for the Kumeyaay. Shadow Dancer decides that he must go to a nearby Spanish mission, and learn their magic to bring back to his people. Casts No Shadow wants him to stay and continue his shaman training. The Kumeyaay who visit the mission to see what this new thing is all about are taught that their culture and religious beliefs are wrong, and the only way to clean out their "heathenism" is to be forbidden to go back to their band.

Later, after another disastrous Kumeyaay attack, Spanish troops arrest Casts No Shadow and throw him into a "dungeon." Web is able to regularly bring him native food. Separated from his sacred herbs and from nature, Casts No Shadow turns into an old man practically right before Web's eyes. Shadow Dancer, back with the Kumeyaay by this time, offers himself in exchange for his father. He is forced into slave labor by the Spanish, and is released months later, almost worked to death. The growing string of bad happenings is blamed on Web, because of her webbed fingers.

In a way, this is not pleasant reading. It's highly recommended because this is a well-researched, interesting novel that helps put to rest the perception that Spanish imperialism in the American Southwest was run by kind, benevolent people whose only motivation was love for all of God's children. It's very much worth reading.

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A woman can be a superwoman in most areas, able to juggle kids, parents and/or a career without even breaking a sweat, but still be a complete klutz when it comes to even simple home improvement jobs. The book's title comes from a Jewish way of asking why a woman needs a man to feel complete and fulfilled. You can tell a lot about a man by his cappuccino habit. If he goes to the local gas station, instead of the local coffee bar, he likes sweets, he's frugal and he probably lives nearby.

There is much talk about men; how to get them, how to keep them and what makes them tick. The author talks about some of the men she has dated since her divorce. In most cases, they look like they escaped from the local insane asylum, or there is a big difference between what they say they look like and what they really look like. If there is nothing but sex in a relationship, things will be wonderful for a while. But when the sex fizzles, the relationship will, too.

The author's plan for running a personal ad in a local monthly magazine is to run it for three consecutive months, but slightly alter the ad each month. That will hep remove the perception of desperation. Of course, there are safety rules for dating, like arranging to meet him somewhere public, and letting friends know where you're going.

The author also looks at mail-order catalogs, spending a day volunteering at an organic farm run by a group of nuns, the fact that women can learn home repair if they are so inclined, a trip with her youngest daughter, now a teenager, to the local Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlor, the TV show "Sex and the City" and why not start your own holiday traditions? The book also includes an introduction to the Yiddish language, with more than 100 words used throughout the book defined in the back of the book.

This one is quite good. It concerns subjects near and dear to everyone (life in general, and relationships in particular) and it's written in a very easy-to-read style, as if the reader is sitting across a kitchen table from Eckert. You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate it. It's very much worth reading.

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This book doesn't try to say that Career X will be the fastest growing in the next 10 years, or entry-level jobs in Career Y will be worth a certain salary per year. It asks questions like: What is your goal in life? A goal of "making lots of money" would seem to indicate a career in computers or the financial sector. What if you are not cut out for computers or the financial sector? Start with something about which you are passionate, and brainstorm from there. A boring job, no matter how lucrative, is not worth it.

Everyone wants to find their ideal job immediately. Life doesn't work that way; it's supposed to be a learning experience. Every job, no matter how boring, is just one step closer to that ideal position. Employers are more interested in real enthusiasm (passion) for a job or demonstrated abilities in, for instance, problem solving and logical thinking, than in a degree in a certain field.

When faced with an unsuccessful job interview, some people consider it no big deal and go on to the next one, while others get very depressed and upset with themselves. The difference is called Perspective. Try cutting a huge task into smaller pieces, and be sure to reward yourself when you accomplish those smaller tasks.

Why is it that, in a friendship, we can accept the other person, warts and all, and give without thinking about it, but in a relationship, much more attention is given to how much each person is giving or taking? Ignore the drumbeat of society which says that a person "should" be married or in a long term relationship by a certain age. Your time may come earlier or later in life. When it comes, you'll know.

If the relationship with the parents was difficult (in any sense of the term), consider forgiveness. The intention isn't so much to let them off the hook, as to let yourself off the hook. That way, you can get past whatever emotional hold they had on you, and get on with your life.

This book is a keeper. It's recommended not just for college graduates (all of whom should read it), but for people who have been out of college for awhile. It's got a lot of insight that's good for all ages. It's really worth it.

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If the school is close enough, one of the first questions to be answered is: To live on campus or to commute? Living on campus presents much greater opportunities for meeting people and getting involved in school activities, but finances may dictate otherwise. Then comes dealing with your roommate(s), who may be a different religion or skin color, or even from another country. If you and your best friend go to the same college, just because you get along as friends doesn't mean you'll get along as roommates.

Once you're settled, you will find out very quickly just how independent a person you really are. Can you really take care of yourself, or do you still depend on your parents for cooking, laundry and to wake you up in the morning? If the latter, be ready for a sharp learning curve. The author also looks at alcohol (occasional partying is alright, constant partying is not) and sex (practice safe sex and take control of your own body) on campus.

If possible, declare your major early; if not possible, don't worry, you have plenty of time. You are not limited in your course selection because of your major. For instance, an undergraduate degree in business is not required, or even preferred, in order to get an MBA. A skill that all successful college students learn very quickly is time management, when to study and when to relax. In college, much more of the work is done outside the classroom than in high school, so the worst thing a person can do is to put things off until the last minute. The author also looks at ways to get a head start on your career. Try an internship or study abroad for a year. Many colleges have a Career Services office; use it. Money is a subject near and dear to the heart of every college student, both qualifying for financial aid and managing finances while at school. Also covered here are personal safety, ways to reduce stress and how not to be a victim of the freshman fifteen (pounds, that is).

Any college looking for a book to give their incoming freshmen on what to expect in college would do very well to start right here. The sections are short and full of information and the author knows what he's talking about. It's well worth reading.

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He is enticed into one more assignment. All over the country, older people are suddenly and inexplicably killing their loved ones. These people are the epitome of Mr and Mrs Average American. It gets serious when all 300 people in a small town in Wyoming are discovered murdered. The initial thought is that this is the beginning of a militia takeover of America. That is quickly dismissed when the phenomenon of people banding together and committing random acts of murder starts happening all over the world.

It is discovered that the phenomenon is spread by the Internet. A person doesn't have to go to any particular web site, just being on the Internet at all for even a couple of minutes is enough for anyone to be taken over. A national alert is broadcast, telling people to stay off the Internet, and attempts are made to shut it down, but no one can get to every corner of the Web.

The cause of the phenomenon is a hacker virus, which grew and mutated while on the Web. It combined with a very popular shoot-em-up computer game, then expanded to the point where it can recognize, and deal with, any attempt, anywhere, to stop it.

Matt and Lisa race against time in the Pentagon, practically the last safe place in America (the President is already in a safe bunker in Utah), to deal with the virus. While they are separated for a time, Lisa somehow gets infected and disappears. Matt has to find her without killing her (she certainly wants to kill him), while being the only one who can sit in front of a computer for any length of time to enter the proper anti-virus commands, due to his mind-control abilities.

This one is really good. It's eerily plausible, it's well done, it would make a great movie and about the last half of the book is one long roller coaster ride. The reader will never again look at the Internet in the same way. Political suspense fans will love it.

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The hair growing out of a man's body are all hair-sized clones of Marlon Brando, except for his head and face, which are covered with clones of Michael Wincott, an underrated actor who usually plays a villain. To fight a major case of acne, a man has a baby's bottom grafted on to his face. A man tries to convince his feet not to eat him. A group of professors are trapped in a port-a-john and work to liberate their minds from the boundaries of reason. Dr Thunderlove is a pediatrician whose eyes just happen to be outside his head, perched on the ends of gray-green stalks a half-foot long. A man's ear holes turn into mouths, with teeth and tongues that can taste and talk. At a cocktail party, a man throws himself through a door despite there being a sign on the door that says Open Me Up And Walk Through Me. A man's brain sneaks out of his head at night, and the man searches bars and strip clubs for it, sometimes for days. A hermaphrodite gets himself pregnant and gives birth to twins.

I believe that you get the idea. Think William S. Burroughs and Franz Kafka when reading these stories, but read them in small doses, because they are not for everyone. For those who like weird, mind-blowing literature, this is definitely worth reading.

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