Rush to your bookstore and grab a copy of this book. If you are a singer or a performing artist, Entertainment Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now is the book you must sink your teeth in. It is explosive because it depicts the character of well-known singers who hide behind the mic and the image created by their publicists. In a way, the author exposes what he likes and dislikes most about them. Informative, because it provides wealth of information on showbiz, its ups and downs, career struggling, auditions, the dos and don'ts in entertainment and all those resources you need to know about to launch your career. It is also academic and imposing, because it retraces the history and roots of world entertainment from its dawn to the present. Did I mention how funny and entertaining this book is? It is hilarious! Fun, fun! Maximillien de Lafayette, author of the book is known for his expertise in this field. But what caught my interest is not exclusively the overwhelming information and in-depth articles de Lafayette fed his book with but his outrageous approach in criticizing American singers who imitate French cabaret chanteuses. For instance, he writes about how famous cabaret singers in New York mispronounced  French words and murder French songs with their "unattractive French accent" or how they position themselves on stage and lean against a baby grand , thus ridiculously imitating great French cabaret chanteuses of the early era of Paris and Berlin cabaret.

But the book is also constructive and uplifting, because de Lafayette gave a wide exposure to talented singers who needed a break. Side by side, you will read about the most famous singers in the business and obscure but gifted artists. The interviews with the stars are fascinating, sometime, a bright light is shed on the career of the artist, and in some passages, in a satiric manner, de Lafayette ridiculed tons of them. By all means, Entertainment Divas Cabaret Jazz Then and Now is an explosive, powerful and informative piece of work. Worthy mentioning is the listing and rating of singers, as well as stories and gossips about mega stars who were portrayed in this book in a very unorthodox way. De Lafayette, apparently, knew them very well.