You know how much I read, how much I love to read, and how much I love giving out reading material as gifts. Well, with Xmas just a few days away, here are two very self-centered but worthwhile recommendations (in other words, books that actually stooped to the level of having me contribute to them).
The first is the oft-mentioned, idea-filled and charity-benefitting "Age of Conversation." Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton's brainchild has now hit the big-time, being sold on Amazon.com, with all proceeds still being donated to Variety the Children's Charity. Find out more, and buy the thing for crissakes, by clicking here.
The second is a unique Bruce Springsteen coffee table opus put together by my long-time friend Lawrence Kirsch. "Kirschie" and I shared many adventures and misadventures in the late '70s and early '80s when I was the Entertainment Editor of the Sunday Express newspaper. But enough about stories I can't print due to fears of lawsuits from record companies, elderly waitresses and assorted rockstars...
A renowned rock music photographer (that's his shot on the book's cover at left), Lawrence channeled the Web 2.0 staples of user-generated content and community into hardcover form, where fans (including yours truly) contribute personal stories and photos of their passionate admiration for The Boss.
Lawrence had told me about this one years ago when it was in its embryonic stages, and the result is way more than I could have ever imagined; a classy, elegant chronological chronicle of one of the great artist/fan relationships in showbiz history. Getting great buzz, too. And deservedly so.
Order yours here, but do so quickly, as the initial limited edition has less than 100 copies left to sell.