Combining whimsical illustrations with poems of love, humour and celebration of the ups and downs of being a touring recording artist, Idiot Verse is a delightful book in the tradition of Leonard Cohen and John Lennon. It's a singer-songwriter's notebook to himself, and the world, and sure to impress fans especially, of which Henson has many.

The human voice is the most popular musical instrument, and vocal singing is like any other musical endeavour- it takes discipline, practice (and some talent) to do it well. CIG to Singingoffers readers an easy-to-use guide to the process of becoming a singer. Readers will learn how to find their ideal singing range, how to improve their basic technique, how to stand and breathe properly, how to sing in different musical styles, and the book is filled with numerous illustrations, musical examples and singing exercises. An audio CD includes examples of different techniques and accompaniments for the exercises, letting the reader hear the way they're supposed to sound and practice along. The book also contains a glossary of terms, singer's pronunciation reference, vocal problems troubleshooting guide, and a list of resources.

Discover the poet within! You’ve read poetry that has touched your heart, and you’d like to improve your own writing technique. But even though you have loads of inspiration, you’re discovering that good instruction can be as elusive as a good metaphor. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Writing Poetry will help you compose powerful, emotion-packed poems that you can be proud of. You’ll learn: • Simple explanations of poetry building blocks, such as metaphor, imagery, symbolism, and stanzas. • Steps to the poetic process. • Easy-to-follow guidelines for writing sonnets, sestinas, narrative poems, and more. • Fun exercises to help you master the basics of poetry writing. • How to avoid clichés and other poetry pitfalls. • Advice on writers’ conferences and workshops. • Tips on getting your poetry published. • Good poems that will inspire your own work. • Strategies to beat writer’s block.

The essential guide to looking at literature with your own two eyes. What students know about Shakespeare, Orwell, Dickens, and Twain is primarily what their instructors tell them. Here’s a book that teaches the students how to move on to the next level—evaluate and read critically on their own, trust their own opinions, develop original ideas, analyze characters, and find a deeper appreciation for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more. • Ideal companion for college students and accessible for the casual reader as well. • Covers fiction, poetry, narrative nonfiction, biographies and memoirs, essays and editorials, and newspapers, magazines, and journals. • Features examples from published writing. • Includes a reading list and a glossary of literary terms.

Recently updated, this handbook offers an accessible guide to one of the world's major religions and its place in history and current events.

Now newbie songwriters can learn the craft—and sing their own praises online Beginning songwriters can hit the right note by starting out with the basics in this guide, including: • How to create melodies • How to create many different harmonies • Techniques using deliberate rhythm and stylistic changes • How to enable one's songwriting to grow and evolve • How to deal with songwriter's block • The best places to upload one's work for maximum exposure and opportunities

Looks at American authors from Washington Irving to John Updike and provides brief biographical sketches, excerpts and summaries of major works, and explanations of major literary movements

How to talk to God. Through practical examples, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Christian Prayers and Devotions demonstrates the impact of down-to-earth conversations with God. Organized by topic, this volume is ideal for browsing through prayers and devotions according to the your interest-from joy and depression to assistance and gratitude-and contains both modern-day prayers and prayers from antiquity. --The only book currently on the market to include both prayers and devotions for Christians --Organized by topic: joy, depression, giving thanks at holiday time, asking for assurance, prayers of contentment, prayers of salvation, and much more --Author has written numerous books on religious topics and has been a prominent figure in religious publishing

You’re no idiot, of course. The battle scenes in Gladiator had you on the edge of your seat and wondering where you could find more information on the rise and fall of ancient Rome. But so far, your search has left you feeling like a blundering barbarian. Pick yourself up off the coliseum floor! Consult The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Roman Empire—a fun-to-read introduction to the fascinating history, people, and culture of ancient Rome. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: --The history of the Roman Empire’s rise and fall. --An idiot-proof introduction to the great epic literature of the Roman Republic. --A survey of the Romans in arts and popular culture. --Fascinating details of some of history’s most nefarious emperors, including Nero, Caligula, and Commodus.