Rating:  Summary: You've got to admit she's a shrewd businesswoman . . . Review: (1) Martha Stewart isn't doing anything different from what highly successful males in business have been doing for years. The big difference: she's female. (2) Don't take it all so seriously. (3) Separate the wheat from the chaff: True, much of what she does is cutesy (including the way she mugs the camera on her TV show), but she's got the best how-to show on TV, short of Norm Abrams. Martha knows how to market herself and her products. Give her that. So she's stepped on a few toes along the way. It makes for a good read. I couldn't put it down. I read the book as soon as it came out and I still catch her show once in a while and alway buy her magazine. Lighten up on Martha, folks.
Rating:  Summary: Fascinating book on one of pop cultures icons Review: Before the story broke about the insider trading scandal involving Martha Stewart, I did not have a good idea of who she was. I was curious to find out so I purchased "Just Desserts". The book did not seem to be a "hit piece", as others have portrayed this book. What I found was a writer who disected the image from the the real person. It is a very interesting study on Martha Stewart's troubled past regarding her domineering father and Martha's need to become rich and famous no matter what the cost and no matter who got in the way. I came away feeling very sorry for her. Whether you are a fan of her's or not, the book does a very good job of showing the fake from the real. The onscreen personae and her real actiions behind the scenes will shock and astound. The author also delves into the fantastic business savy that Stewart displayed throughout her career. Often underestimated, but always on top of things. A real modern day Jeckyl and Hide story. A very good read.
Rating:  Summary: Apparently Martha's not such a "good thing" Review: Driven, resourceful, intelligent,focused....all positive qualities possessed by any successful person. She reigns supreme unapologetically and has managed to rise to the top on the backs of her friends, co-workers and partners. Oppenheimer, may sling a little mud, but I don't think he does it without aiming carefully to the heart of the matter. His tome is well researched and leaves little to the imagination. Martha facing her kama? Now THAT's a good thing.
Rating:  Summary: Best Backhanded Compliment Ever! Review: Driven, talented, educated, successful--if only she had been a man. But Martha's not, that makes her a ballbuster. I enjoyed this book because it was so easy to read between the lines. Martha Stewart worked hard, made the real American Dream come true-to be wealthy, powerful, and famous. It's okay for Lee Iacoca or Donald Trump to do this--but not an Irish Catholic girl child of the fifties. Maybe it's not just that she's a woman, but that she's made her way to fame and fortune through homemaking--traditionally the most underesteemed and underpaid work. In other words, women's work. I admire her immensly, even more so after reading this book.
Rating:  Summary: Dessert? NO THANKYOU! Review: I have tried to stomach this book with no success. For a while I carried it around in the car to read waiting for kids or appointments, but finally brought it back into the house. This morning I read a few of the reviews of other readers and made one more pass through the book, but have decided to send it on the next trip to the landfill- it is not even something I would donate to the free shelf at the library- the only positive thing I can say is that the author appears to have done a lot of research- a lot of which is unbearably tedious and just takes up space. The title which is what caught my interest, is deceivingly clever- I see now there are several books that use the same play on words. With so many good books that one cannot possibly hope to find time to read them all, don't waste your time- or integrity- on this. I spent $6.99 on this and I'm throwing it in the garbage where it belongs. I gave this book a star because that was the lowest rating available, a kindness
on behalf of Amazon.
Rating:  Summary: NO LASTING PERSONAL FRIENDS? WONDER WHY? Review: I read Marth, Inc. first and was so intrigued with her life and talents I then read this book which talks more about her personal life rather than just the business aspects. Martha Stewart is one complex momma that truly rules the roost. She has done far more dasterdly deeds than good ones, yet this is a great reading book as something is happening all the time. Professionally, I still thing she is a great, talented person; personally, I am glad I live on the west coast of our country so I am nowhere close to Ms. Martha Stewart. Anyone that does business with her after reading the two books mentioned is crazy!
Rating:  Summary: Martha Oh! Review: I'm not really a Martha "fan" as such, but I do enjoy her magazine "Martha Stewart Living" and have learned much from her. I was hoping to learn about her life, her experiences as a model, caterer, etc. and how she came to make this huge business grow as it has. Instead, this book was a diatribe against her. Nobody is ALL bad. And, in spite of the author's comments about Martha and her relationships with her parents, it IS possible to learn to love music, art, and nature from parents who are also abusive and nasty. I suggest you save your money and not even buy the thing. Amazon.com has many other books that are much more worth your time and money than this one.
Rating:  Summary: It is obvious that the author hates Martha. Review: I'm not really a Martha "fan" as such, but I do enjoy her magazine "Martha Stewart Living" and have learned much from her. I was hoping to learn about her life, her experiences as a model, caterer, etc. and how she came to make this huge business grow as it has. Instead, this book was a diatribe against her. Nobody is ALL bad. And, in spite of the author's comments about Martha and her relationships with her parents, it IS possible to learn to love music, art, and nature from parents who are also abusive and nasty. I suggest you save your money and not even buy the thing. Amazon.com has many other books that are much more worth your time and money than this one.
Rating:  Summary: This book is a good thing Review: If you like biographies of popular people this is a good one to read....I could not put it down until I was finished! This book is full of interesting details and is very well written. The stories about Martha's life just flowed one after another. If you are fascinated by Martha and her success, this book will give you insight into the real Martha--her problems, her pain and her drive to the top. This book tells it all!! Recommend highly!
Rating:  Summary: Martha Oh! Review: Martha Stewart is a tough and successful businessman in a women's body! Whether we like her or not, we have to admit that she's got what it takes to get where she is now: an enormous self confidence (wich is not bad in the business world) skill and an admirable creativity. She is a leader and she knows exactly where she is going. But things has to be done HER way and she won't accept any advice from anybody, she won't tolerate any competition, not to mention her dictatorial attitude towards her husband and daughter. And, frankly, reading about the latter was painful, and at one point I was almost afraid to turn the pages and read more about the terrible way she treated her family... she lost a husband who loved her deeply and would have done anything for her. But Martha wanted success at any cost, even if it meant neglecting her own family to achieve it...sad, very sad!!
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