Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Being neither a Col. Parker fan nor an Elvis fan, I was apprehensive about tackling this book...Much to my amazement, I found this biography to be a riveting and compelling psychological profile/investigation of the "puppetmaster" behind the scenes. The meticulous research into the Colonel's mysterious past, in conjunction with the complex dynamics of the relationship between the two men, creates a portrait of interest to anyone fascinated by an intensive exploration of human relationships. A "must read!" for anyone intrigued by exploring in depth insights into the multifaceted interactions of the world behind the show biz scene. To dismiss this book as yet another Elvis/Parker volume would be a grave mistake. There are so many dimensions of this story that will appeal to a broader audience on a variety of levels. Any reader will be simply be awed by this groundbreaking work that can appeal to fans as well as those readers who simply appreciate a fascinating story and psychological investigation! Much like a detective novel, this book instantly hooks the reader and evolves into a true page turner! Don't miss [it!!!]
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and serious journalism
Review: Elvis Presley is on the edge of everyone's consciousness. We all are aware, to varying degrees, of Elvis Presley, no matter what one's age or nationality. Personally, I never paid too much attention to Elvis because I was more a product of the Beatles era and thereafter and Elvis was for "older" people. But, I was given a copy of The Colonel and I began to read it. I couldn't put it down. It was fascinating, even for someone who is not a fan. (I'll say "wasn't a fan" ...I am quite interested now by Elvis, sparked by this book on the Colonel.) Here is excellent and serious journalism about the intriguing figure,the mysterious man behind Elvis Presley, THE icon of 20th century pop culture. Alanna Nash hooks you right in from the start on her journey to find the truth about Colonel Tom Parker. This book is carefully researched and presents the facts as fairly and objectively as possible. Ms. Nash gives the reader a 360 degree view and, at the end, she lets the reader make his/her own decision about the man. At the same time, the reader gets a different view of the whole "Elvis Story" which hard-core Elvis fans would appreciate as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Hurt how made monstruosities to Elvis..
Review: Elvis really is one person that tolerated, because to bear with person like his fans, is to be a hero.
But to be a prisioner of the system in the person of this killer, is really to be a saint.
Around Elvis I saw a criminal system of money that used his body and voice to make money.
And this book only make more powerful this criminal and made of Elvis only a piece of mockery for his own fans ...and for stranges that saw him for "older" people.
Is not extraordinary. Is the Elvis that every fan believe to see. Even if Elvis was seeing and knowing for his own fans. Even in the picture, this criminal is over Elvis like the perfect dangerous image because of the position of image of this criminal ( at left but in an important place ). And the image of Elvis in a little space near the rihgt.
Even the message of image is very clear: Elvis was only a fool for his own fans.
But if you want to made this system richer is your desition.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo, Alanna!
Review: I have a different perspective on this book than most people, as I was part of the history Alanna Nash so eloquently recounts. I was for many years Elvis Presley's close friend and personal hairstylist, and of course I had numerous encounters with "The Colonel." I had been anxiously awaiting what was being touted as the "definitive" book on this larger-than-life man. There have been so many inaccurate and speculative books about Elvis and the people around him, especially Col. Parker, that I was concerned this might be just another disappointment. Wow! Was I pleasantly surprised. Finally a three-dimensional portrait of an elusive man who spent his life controlling not only the lives of people around him, but his own history. Alanna Nash hit the mother-lode. Her journalistic background, her meticulous research and novelist's skill with words have enabled her to create a fascinating and realistic picture of this man who was behind the scenes of the greatest entertainer of all time. The Colonel, with his personal demons and his professional genius, comes to life in the pages of this hard-to-put-down book. This is indeeed the definitive book about "Colonel Tom Parker." Bravo, Alanna!
Rating:
Summary: A must read for any Elvis fan!!
Review: I read this book a few days after receiving it. It was excellent. Nash has a very special gift. Having read just about everything about Elvis I could get my hands on over the years, I thought I knew it all. It seems most of the books I have read are saying the same stuff. THE COLONEL is full of thorough research and info I had never read before. I loved it. I knew Parker was different, but I had no idea how different. He sounds a bit twisted. He also sounds very misunderstood. And not very happy. Nash should should be very proud of what she's accomplished with the book. I
suspect she has enough material about her actual conversations with him for
another book. I hope she writes it.
Rating:
Summary: A True Depiction of Andreas' Heart
Review: In all of my Elvis journeys I have been waiting for a long time for a book that depicts the true hidden world of Colonel Parker (aka Andreas) and his relationship with Elvis. The research and conclusions of Alanna regarding his inner secrets are extraordinarily accurate. As a professional singer myself I must admit I would give anything to have had such a dedicated and talented manager like Col. Parker; but, without having to pay the price that Elvis did. I'm certain that if Elvis had read this book he would have agreed with its conclusions. And in my opinion, Col. Parker would probably have never made a name for himself without Elvis Presley. This book would also be a great read for those in power in the music industry, and the wannabees that litter the entertainment landscape. Outstanding research and scholarship. Thank you Alanna!
Rating:
Summary: A True Depiction of Andreas' Heart
Review: In all of my Elvis journeys I have been waiting for a long time for a book that depicts the true hidden world of Colonel Parker (aka Andreas) and his relationship with Elvis. The research and conclusions of Alanna regarding his inner secrets are extraordinarily accurate. As a professional singer myself I must admit I would give anything to have had such a dedicated and talented manager like Col. Parker; but, without having to pay the price that Elvis did. I'm certain that if Elvis had read this book he would have agreed with its conclusions. And in my opinion, Col. Parker would probably have never made a name for himself without Elvis Presley. This book would also be a great read for those in power in the music industry, and the wannabees that litter the entertainment landscape. Outstanding research and scholarship. Thank you Alanna!
Rating: 
Summary: 4 stars for the Colonel 0 stars for Elvis.
Review: Nash does a much better job with Colnel Von Kujik than she does with The King. The book lacks the depth needed to be really compelling. Its matter of fact journalistic style falls short of prose and the perspective is too far removed from the subject to be insightful. So much retread grist from the mill about Elvis; very atypical portrait filled with more tales from the toilet and drug induced dimentia. This book would have been better served if she focused exclusively on the Colonel. The perfunctory way Nash deals with Elvis is boring and shallow. The best new book about Elvis is called AROUND ELVIS and you should read it if you want to read about the heart and soul of Elvis Presley.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic story!
Review: Nash's research, which spanned six years (not eight, as
one misinformed reviewer here says, but he was wrong about a LOT of things), is deep and extensive, and certainly goes far beyond tabloid sensibility. She gives very little space to Presley's digestive troubles,and only in the sense that his manager should have been acutely aware of his physical decline and helped restore him to health. THE COLONEL has been widely praised, even by members of Parker's family both in America and in Holland. I found it a compelling read and essential reading for any serious
fan of popular music.No wonder Nash is one of the MOST respected journalists in her field.
Rating:
Summary: Flush this book!
Review: Never has one man's colon been given so much coverage---what went in, what went out, how often it was used, how much it weighed post mortem. This book is a compilation of every Inquirer/Star magazine story of the last 25 with the addition of Nash's quest to get Parker's Army papers. She makes a big deal about her 8 years of research on this book, which reveals what even casual fans already know. The book has no character and just rambles along to the inevitable well documented conclusion. As with the Memphis Mafia book she wrote, Nash again displays her pedantic writing skills---at least this time she didn't suffer fans for a 1000 pages, but this nealy 500 page odyssey is nearly 500 pages too long. There's barely enough here for an article. Let me save you all some time and dollars and sum this book up for you. The Colonel was a huckster/con man, and heavy gambler; Elvis' flunkies spied on him for the Colonel; Vernon was ignorant; Elvis over ate and abused drugs which destroyed his intestinal system and it killed him. THE END!
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