Customer Reviews

100 Ways to Beat the Blues

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having already given several copies of this book to family and friends, I will undoubtedly be giving several more, spreading the gift this collection offers. It includes pieces poignant, lush, hilarious, hypnotic, both timely and timeless, as well as a handful that are just plain fun. Among my favorites are the ones that weave traces of grace across one's reckoning, like Paul Sylbert's "The Jack Daniel's Blues," Cathie Pelletier's "The Sunday Blues," and "The Map-Crease Blues" by David Logan.

The blues pulse through us all, and this book captures magnificently their rhythm, the individual works offering collectively a broad range of perspectives and generating a connection among a variety of writers and readers. As a result, reading the collection effects a fine and mighty cadence as personal measures beat, for a space of time, in exquisite accord. There is a harmonious beat-of-heart to be found in 100 Ways to Beat the Blues, and it is a gift to all who share in it.

Sometimes funny, sometimes contemplative and introspective... you'll appreciate this book. It's interesting to delve into the minds of people you've read about for years by reading their own thoughts in their own words. And C. Ritzo (below) is right... the quality and value of the non-celebrity writers' perspectives are at least as satisfying as those of the big names.

Tanya offers a wide assortment of great ideas to beat the blues. My favorite was by some guy named Brad Christensen who has a very interesting and rewarding hobby: Hilarious reverse scams against those Nigerian spammers who offer us 20 percent of the millions they don't have. He feeds them all sorts of bizarre tales and sends them on wild goose chases. Good work, Tanya and Brad!

I follow Carl Hileman's work and was lucky enough to run accross this book, inlcluding comments from Hileman and other greats.
The book was full of insight and an array of stories, thoughts and comments to help us all.

This book is great! I found that I could relate to stories by Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson, to name a few. I am impressed by the wide array of people who have attached themselves to this book.

Who hasn't had the blues?

Yet the real question should be: What do you do about them?

Country singer Tanya Tucker in 100 WAYS TO BEAT THE BLUES
helps you answer that second one with a collection of tips from such celebrities as Garth Books, Brenda Lee, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, and NASCAR's Geoff Bodine . . . in
addition, she got ideas from 30 other "just plain" folks, including a
farmer, private detective, doctor, and retired gospel radio-show host.

You might not find anything brilliantly original in this book,
yet that said, it made me smile at times--such as when I
read that former President George H. W. Bush yells at
his television . . . I also found myself shaking my head
in agreement with such advice as the following given by
actress Morgan Fairchild: When it comes to the blues,
it's always better to give than to receive.

100 WAYS TO BEAT THE BLUES, by the way, would be
an excellent gift if you're looking for an ideal way just to tell
somebody that you're thinking of him or her . . . any
recipient would benefit from such other useful tidbits
as the following:

[Brenda Lee] The year 2000 marked by fiftieth year in show business.
I don't often get down, but when I do, I reflect on how blessed I've been
in my life. Then I think of something I can do for someone else.
Offering a helping hand to another will lift you up faster than anything.

[Paul Gahlinger]: So, if feeling blue is a matter of chemistry, and we can
change brain chemistry by sheer thought alone, then it seems logical to
stop feeling blue just by deciding to do so. But if that fails, I personally
reach for the ultimate weapon: a pint of Ben & Jerry's New York Super
Fudge Chunk.

[Robert Westbrook]: Here's what I've learned: Money can be nice. It can
even be necessary for a lot of things. But you can't buy away the blues.
And money didn't buy my parents long and fruitful lives. Instead, concentrate
on the things that you already own, and that no one can take from
you, whether you've got money or not: Music. Sunsets. Loyal friends.
Joy. Inner peace. That's the expensive stuff.

100 Ways to Beat the Blues is an excellent compilation of not only the writings of some very famous folks, but many "regular people" as well. The thoughts of many new up-and-coming writers made this book a great buy for me. There's a story for everyone to identify with in 100 Ways to Beat the Blues, & mine was "Map Crease Blues" by David Logan.

This book is uplifting to the spirit and an inspirational, highly entertaining read. I particularly marveled at Brad Christensen's chapter on Nigerian scammers. What a creative writer! I was previously blown away by his hilarious adventures in anti-scam as documented online at Quatloos.com. Christensen deserves a book of his own. In the meantime, buy this one.
Jeremy Vernon

The list of celebrities alone is a wonderful list: Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Burt Reynolds, Wally Lamb, Billy Bob Thornton, Willie Nelson, Joan Jett, George and Barbara Bush, Eric Burdon, Loretta Lynn, Bret Michaels, Kinky Friedman, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gretchen Wilson, Dave Prowse (that's Darth Vader!) Wynonna Judd, Little Richard, Weird Al Yankovic, NASCAR's Geoff Bodine, Garth Brooks, Jerry Orbach, George Jones, Tommy James, Chad & Jeremy, Gene Pitney, Brenda Lee, Morgan Fairchild....well, the list goes on and on. Some are very thoughtful and heart-stabbing, such as Tammy Faye Bakker Messner talking about all she had to go through, and even Barbara Bush talking about losing a young child. And then 30 "regular" folk were chosen from around the country, to show that no matter how famous or rich you are, we all get the blues now and then! But mostly, it's a fun book, uplifting, with 100 witty ways to beat the "blues!" A book for every kind of reader.

This is the perfect book to read while spending time on the toilet. And I mean that as a compliment!! Every bathroom should have one. GO TANYA! and a big thanks to Patsi Balecox.. It was very fitting that the last cure for the blues in the book came from Layla (Tanya's Daughter) as it is the most PERFECT... made me smile REAL BIG!!!!!