JEFFREY'S FAVORITES: Books, Movies and Music by Jeffrey Beringer Looking for a book to expand your mind?  A movie to take you on an amazing journey?   Music to inspire you and make you feel something powerful and wonderful?  Below I share with you some of the books, movies and musicians that I came across over the past year and would recommend to friends and fans.  Some of these were released last year, others of them have been around for a while but have only recently come to my attention.   At any rate, they are all wonderful and highly recommended!  If you have something you feel I absolutely must put on this list, then by all means recommend it to me.  Enjoy! BOOKS: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell I read this book in one sitting since I was unable to put it down!  An analysis of the factors that enable any idea, trend or epidemic to spread through society, the author gives fascinating concrete examples and will transform you into a person who can make anything happen. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl A man shares the secrets he learned about survival in a German concentration camp in WWII, and uses them to develop a new school of psychological therapy.   Fascinating, powerful, touching, and inspirational.   This book gave me a new respect for mankind and taught me to find strength I never knew existed. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn Howard Zinn brings to life the REAL people who made history happen, (like labor leaders, war resisters and fugitive slaves) and shines a flashlight in some places most historians would rather keep hidden away. The History of Money by Jack Weatherford Weatherford is obviously a man of extensive study and an excellent writer.   He will bring history alive for you as he examines the story of one of the most important but enigmatic forces in our lives....money. Secrets, Lies and Democracy by Noam Chomsky Chomsky should be required reading for everyone who lives in this country.   In less than 100 pages, with simple but direct language, he will bring to your attention everything the government, corporations and media willdo anythign to hide. The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast Take off your rose colored glasses!  It's time to meet the real George Bush.  Keep a bucket handy in case you need to puke. Don't think of an Elephant by George Lakoff This book outlines the fundamental philosophical differences between Liberals and Conservatives, and shows how Conservatives have managed to step forward in the political arena by hijacking the very words that we use to frame the issues.   This book is a first step towards taking our language...and our country... back! Tim Sweeney's Guide to Releasing Independent Records by Tim Sweeney A no nonsense guide on what you need to do to get your music career off the ground.   Simple, clear and to the point. What They'll Never tell You About the Music Business by Peter M. Thall Read this before the hollywood fat cats rob you blind!   A must for aspiring musicians. El Alquimista by Paulo Coelho For Spanish speaking readers.  A fascinating allegorical tale of a young sheep herder from Spain who goes on the adventure of a lifetime.   Adventure packed and suspenseful.  The perfect book for people who are looking for a thrilling read....or who want to examine the deeper question of how to proceed in their own lives... MOVIES: Maria Full of Grace The tale of some young girls in Columbia who get caught up in the drug trade with the US.  Tender, harsh, and stunning, this movie doesn't hide from anything.   A complete emotional journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  In Spanish with subtitles. Madame Sata The true story of one of Brazil's most colorful figures, Joao Francisco dos Santos, also known as Madame Sata, a sometime chef, transvestite, lover, father, hero and convict from Rio de Janeiro.   A passionate visual feast, this movie transcends all limits and brings to your eyes a life you would never dare to lead yourself, but secretly want to! Keep the River on your Right:  A Modern Cannibal Tale One of the most fascinating documentaries of our time.   The story of Tobias Schneebaum, a gay New York Jewish painter....who in his youth dropped everything in his life to live in the jungle with primitive people in Peru and New Guinea, and who was completely accepted into the tribes!   At the age of 78, Schneebaum returns to the same jungles and tribes he lived in as a youth, but this time with a film crew.  Charming, compelling, adventure-filled and inspiring, this film will make you re-evaluate our own culture, and will plant the seed of adventure in your heart. Imagining Argentina The tale of a female journalist who "disappears" in Peron's Argentina, and her Husband's quest to find her.   Eye opening and horrifying at times, with a touch of fantasy.   This movie will bring Argentinian history alive for you and give you a new respect for the real strength of women, as well as the real dangers of unscrupulous governments. Gandhi Maybe you fist saw this when in came out in 1982.  It is definitely worth watching again!  The epic tale of one of history's most fascinating people.  Learn how a tiny little bald man who dressed in what looks like a diaper took on the British Empire and won, without a single violent act.  An excellent and beautiful journey through the history of India and the power of non-violent protest. Cleopatra (Argentina, 2003) The tale of one of the silver screens oddest odd couples.....a retired schoolteacher and a glamourous soap opera star....and the hilarious journey they take through the Argentinian countryside to escape their bozo men.  An Argentinian version of Thelma and Louise.  Spanish with sub-titles. In the Time of the Butterflies The true story of the Mirabal sisters, also known as "las Mariposas" or "The Butterflies," who served in the underground movement to overthrow Leonides Trujillo, the brutal dictador of the Dominican Republic from 1930-1961.  They withstood prison, torture, and ultimately death, but their lives served to keep hope alive in an oppressed nation and ultimately bring about justice.  Beautiful, inspiring, tragic and fascinating. En La Puta Vida ("Tricky Life" in English) A gem of a film from Uruguay.   A very funny and adventure packed story of a woman who, in an attempt to make her dreams come true, descends into the vibrant but seedy and dangerous world of prostitution in Mondevideo,Uruguay and Barcelona, Spain.  Well crafted and well acted, it will keep your eyes glued to the screen from beginning to end. Motorcycle Diaries Follow young Che Guevara on the notorious journey through South America that opened his eyes to the world and ultimately led him to form his revolutionary ideology.   A terrific road trip, with all the scenery and spice you'd expect.  Based on the actual diaries kept by Che Guevara on his journey. Supersize Me If you thought McDonalds was disgusting before, now you are REALLY going to think it is disgusting.   Follow the narrator on the path to the emergency room as he spends 30 days eating only McDonalds food, and exposes some fascinating marketing ploys.... Twin Falls Idaho Handsome young Siamese twins, a beautiful woman...and a story so strange and wonderful that it must be seen to be believed.... Bowling for Columbine I liked Fahrenheit 911, but I think that Michael Moore's best work was actually "Bowling for Columbine. " A profound look at the things that contribute to the culture of violence in the United States, this movie asks some difficult questions and comes up with some fascinating answers.  My favorite scene is what happens when Moore goes to Canada and just starts bursting in unannounced on strangers in their homes to see if they'll shoot him.....you won't believe what happens! Frida This movie is one of the few movies I can watch 100 times and still want to see again and again.  The story of Frida Kahlo, the famous bisexual painter from Mexico, who spent her life trying to recover from a near fatal trolley crash as a youth... and her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera.  This movie is a bonanza of color, culture, art and wonderful, wonderful passion.  The soundtrack is as good as the movie and is worth buying in and of itself. MUSIC: Chance      If you've listened to his unbelieveable music, seen his unforgettable live show, and been lucky enough to witness his totally awesome website, and you still aren't impressed by this guy, then you are probably in a coma!   Chance is one of the  few independent artists who apply the same innovation and creativity to their promotion techniques as they do to their art.  This dude is a tight package, and even his e-mails are an entertainment extravaganza that will blow you away!  And to think it is all pulled off by just one guy.....unbelieveable! Beth Preston When you've gone to a million open-mic nights and heard a million people get on stage, strum their guitar and sing, you start to get jaded.   Everyone starts to sound like someone you've heard before, and it gets very, very difficult to find someone who can impress you.   And then Beth Preston gets up on stage, and I swear its like you have never heard someone sing or play the guitar before!   This woman has a style that is so unique, so intimate and so intense, it is as if she has reinvented the entire singer/songwriter prototype.  But don't take my word for it.  Check her out for yourself!  She has a fantastic self produced CD that she sells at concerts.   E-mail her directly to see if she can send you a copy. Sahlene      This Swedish pop star is the kind of woman who could make gay boys straight.  Beautiful, curvy and totally sensual, with the voice of an angel.   Her music rides the balance between bubble gum and bad-ass, with a distinctly European flaire.  Listen to her jsut once and you know she was born to be a star.   Her music video "House" is my personal favorite. Bridget Brigitte      Bridget is the kind of person you meet in a cafe somewhere, and have this really great conversation with, and then the next week you fly to Japan and discover that she is like #1 on the Japanese pop charts, and then you fly to Europe and find out she's famous all over the continent, and then you bump into her again at a cafe the following week and she says, oh did I forget to mention that?  She may be soft spoken but this woman is a power house and has a knack for pulling together top talent and getting her voice heard in almost every venue imaginable.  Best of all, Bridget is more interested in sharing the spotlight than hogging it, and she hosts many incredible showcases all over the place.  An accomplished musician, composer and writer, I highly recommend you stop by her website and get aquainted!  Her CD, Where Birds Meet in the Rain, is soothing and stylish,  a much needed aspirin for the headaches of life. Patricia Caicedo      Patricia Caicedo is one of those few humble geniuses that resurrect one's faith in people and art by the mere purity of their love for what they do.  Patricia is an unbelieveably talented soprano singer who has resurrected a little known style of Latin American music, the nineteeth century 'Lied' or 'Art Song' and brought to it to new acclaim.  The stunning mixture of melody, poetry and piano in her collection left me breathless the first time I encountered it, and I was shocked that when I sent her a fan e-letter, she responded to me personally!  The only thing more impressive than her passion for her work is her graciousness and sincerity.   The music in her collection will bring you back to the time when quality and talent were more important than image and marketing campaigns.  This music is a true treat, especially for those with an ear for nuance and fine detail. Shemm Certain very rare people have the ability to leave an impression so strong that after even a single meeting, they will be in your thoughts forever.  Shemm is one of those people.  A self-professed pop star, Shemm is living proof that if you believe in something strongly enough, the mere tenacity of your belief will make it come true.  Shemm's belief in his inevitable pop star destiny has attracted a huge assortment of colorful characters into his presence, which only add to the aura of mystery, controversy and excitement which surrounds him.  Shemm has illuminated stages throughout Southern California and Mexico with his fabulously entertaining antics, and has put together numerous showcases and television shows.  Something of a cult icon, Shemm seems to have descended from another dimension to show us that anything is possible.  This is one guy you definitely don't want to miss..... Paulina Rubio I don't normally gravitate towards hugely commercial artists who have been watered down by all the compromises involved in popular appeal.   However, every once in a while I encounter a commercially popular artist who manages to utilize all the resources at her disposal to create something really phenomenal.  That would be the case with Paulina Rubio's most recent CD, "Paulatina."  Obviously a team effort, with a slew of songwriters, engineers and performers collaborating on the project, the end result is pure, danceable joy.  Innovative rhythms and fun lyrics combine to make this one of the very best latin dance CD's I've heard in recent years.   Get ready to shake those booties!