| Recent Press Check out my column "Survive This!" THIS GREEN HOUSE was featured in The Metro newspaper in mid-September. I know everyone who read it recycled their copy . . . . I was recenly a guest (OK OK, "special guest") for a live taping of an Internet radio show called UsedWigs. It was pretty funny. Well, parts of it. Some photos of the antics are here. I was asked to weigh in for a Wall Street Journal article about layoffs in this, uh, challenging economy. Read it here: WSJ story Not long ago I was a guest opinionater on the popular Freakonomics blog on the New York Times. Check it out: Freakonomics blog. "My attention was captivated by the account of rafting guide Bridget Crocker’s encounter with the Kalinga villagers of the Philippines, who have “mostly abandoned” the ritual of headhunting but still test her intelligence—and nerves—with the offer of a dead piglet . . ." BAD VS. WORSE, From the Library Journal:
From the author who brought us the best-selling The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook and its several spin-offs comes this goof of a psychology book. Piven pits two equally bad options, people, situations, or activities against each other—e.g., "Who would you rather have catering your party, neanderthals or ninjas?" and "Which would be worse, ten hours in Baghdad or Baltimore?"—and readers must decide which option would be worse. After each scenario is staged, the author offers up useful history, information, and facts about the people or things involved. There is a chart in the back to log your decisions, as well as other lose-lose options to consider and a place to create one's own bad vs. worse scenarios. The highly descriptive table of contents allows for easy navigation. An amusing read, this latest entry in the series would be fun to use as a conversation starter among close friends, although some scenarios are undeniably unfair or biased. Recommended for libraries with an interest in pop culture and what-if books.—Angela Milock, SLIS student, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
*** My 18 minute interview on THE ESCAPE ARTISTS with Peter Clayton of Total Picture Radio is available here.
* * * THE ESCAPE ARTISTS, From the Library Journal: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to turn your hobby into a career, to get paid to do what you would do for free? Piven (The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook) profiles ten individuals who have done just that. From the dangerous (e.g., Navy SEAL; drug enforcement agent) to the humorous (stand-up comedian; clown), these jobs all have one thing in common: they are great escapes from the 9-5 world. Instead of a cubicle or corner office, these intrepid individuals report to raging river rapids, remote African villages, or the top of Mount Elbrus, the highest point in all of Europe. This book does not supply a 12-step plan to finding the ideal job; however, it does offer insight into the lives of individuals who have created jobs for themselves in unique and interesting ways. None of these individuals gets rich, but all are richly rewarded. In the tradition of Studs Turkel's Working, this book gives readers a voyeuristic view of the life and work of well-delineated individuals. Recommended for all public libraries.—Jennifer Zarr, NYPL Piven, Joshua. The Escape Artists: True Stories of People Who Turned Their Obsessions into Professions. McGraw-Hill. May 2007. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-07-147926-4. pap. $14.95. BUS * * * Have you ever thought that you'd rather be doing something else with your life? Do you have a hobby or obsession that you'd love to turn into your full-time job? Here are the people who have done just that... The Escape Artists: True Stories of People Who Turned Their Obsessions Into Professions by Joshua Piven. On top of good reading entertainment, it may give you the push you need to make changes...
Contents: From Fandom to the Final Frontier; Wall Street Meets Special Ops; Freaks, Flamethrowers, and Phenoms; Extreme Entrepreneurship; Slop Gags and Frozen Pipes; How to Keep a Drug Kingpin from Getting Too Rich; Rebels, Headhunters, Piglets, and Other Adventures Downriver; You're Funny, But Can You Tell A Joke?; Riding Your Obsession; A Harvard Physician Goes Off the Grid; How to Make Your Escape; Notes
Joshua Piven wrote The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series, which is useful and humorous all at the same time. He continues that style of writing in Escape Artists. He's taken a number of people who have turned aside from the big-money jobs and "normal" society expectations to pursue their personal dreams and obsessions as their full-time professions. In some cases, it's a transition that isn't seen often, like Mark Divine going from an auditing career to a slot in the Army Rangers. In other examples, it's someone going after a full-time career that is off the regular radar screen, like Karen DeSanto becoming a circus clown after auditioning at Clown College. And there's the person chasing his dream even though time is running out and the chance of success is minute... Chuck Bechtel trying to become a major-league pitcher after spending so many years in the minors. These aren't all "feel good" or "happy ending" stories, either. Bechtel's experience is one where he had all the tools when he was young, but overuse and injuries conspired to prevent the jump from college phenom to major-league pitcher. But dreams die hard, and even toiling away in minor leagues for little pay is still preferable to giving up hope completely. But in all the cases, these people have learned that being "normal" or well-paid isn't the path to happiness. Doing something you love is worth the sacrifices, and it often can turn out to be a career.
This book will both entertain and fire up your imagination. If you find yourself working just to finance your dreams, then this may be the motivation you need to allow your dreams to *be* your life. -Thomas Duff
| | Watch the video to learn more . . .
Years of Piven praise from the [choose one: liberal elite/right wing conspiracy-mongering] media horde |
Piven's narratives are thrilling . . . --USA Today Riviting . . . --People Wry advice if you fly to the moon . . . --Des Moines Register The book to have when the killer bees arrive . . --The New Yorker Piven's gift is for storytelling . . . --The Providence Journal What's this bound paper thing with words printed on it? --George W. Bush Gives readers a voyeuristic view of the life and work of well-delineated individuals. --Library Journal An armchair guide for the anxious . . . --USA Today Parachute won't work? Open this instead . . . --The Washington Post A lifesaver . . . --Forbes I'm so proud of you! --My mom Better hope you've packed a copy . . . --Chicago Sun-Times Nearly 180 pages of immediate action drills for when everything goes to hell in a handbasket (SOF editors keep a a copy on their desk at all times) . . . --Soldier of Fortune I love this book! --Howard Stern Take out the trash, Mr. Bigshot Author! --My wife Appearances October 2nd 9:10 am EST WMJI Radio The Lanigan & Malone Show (Cleveland, OH) Interview + book giveaway KBSR- Big Sky Radio & Briefs with Rich Solberg
(Hantin, MT)
Time TBA
Interview + book giveaway
3rd
106.5-FM (Mission, KS) interview Time TBA
Moby in the Morning (Roswell, GA, regionally syndicated throughout the South) interview Time TBA 11 am: NBC 10 TV Philadelphia, interview + book giveaway 4th WPLR-FM (Connecticut) Chaz and AJ in the Morning) 8:45am 5th 100.7-FM The Mancow Muller Show (Seattle, WA, nationally syndicated), interview. 8am 9th Dr. Blogstein Radio Show 9:10-9:35pm ET 12th The Morning Edge with Buck and Dex KTEG-FM Albuquerque, NM 9am ET November 2-4 Texas Book Festival Featured author, talk & signing. If you're in Austin on November 2-4, say hi! Then we'll have lunch with Dubya in Crawford and clear some brush! December 18 Google corporate event. Video will be on YouTube (oh joy). |
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