I really liked this book. I read it in short bursts, a few pages a day over a period of several weeks. So I have a sense of having shared a journey with the author. He writes in a friendly, conversational style and his story fascinated me. I was a devoted Blockbuster client. I LOVED going down the aisles and browsing all the VHS tapes! I was always so happy when I came across an old movie which, for the first time, I could now see without commercials on late-night TV. I literally REVELED in the whole movie-rental experience and I don't think I ever, once paid a late fee. That's how much respect and appreciation I had for the enterprise. Some reviewers mentioned that the author repeats himself throughout. And I suppose that is the case, but I didn't have an issue with it because he was telling of things that kept happening over the course of his 25 year career. It had to have been exasperating, seeing Blockbuster continue to "step in it" while he stood there with a map showing where all the landmines were, trying. . . hoping. . . . pleading with them to please wake up! It was frustrating for me to hear how careless and haphazard the executives were who were entrusted with helming this amazing corporate vessel and how cavalierly they allowed it to toss and dip and sway dangerously close to the precipice time and again and still never learned a damn thing. These fat cats got uber-wealthy off the business but didn't seem to care about the blood, sweat and tears of the little people who made it it work. What Idiots! Let me say that again because it felt good: IDIOTS! I dearly miss the old days of going to a video store to rent a movie, or going to Tower Records to hunt for a CD, or visiting Borders and B. Dalton and Waldenbooks on book buying sprees. I have tremendous nostalgia for those pre-online shopping days. And I worked in retail for many years around that time, incidentally, so I remember how it was a whole "social" experience. This great book brought that all back. It intrigued me to learn about some of the inner workings of the Blockbuster machine. I was quite surprised by most of what I read, but it's all credible and told without any breathless or vindictive tone. But neither is any of it sugar-coated, which I appreciate. No tip-toeing around the sensitive topics! A spade gets called a spade. I'm going to hang onto this book, because I do occasionally like to read books more than once. I liked it that much. As I was nearing the end, it occurred to me that, since I AM such a nostalgic sentimentalist, I might just still have my old Blockbuster membership card tucked away somewhere. . . .possibly in that junk drawer. . . . With great expectation and anticipation, I opened the drawer and fished around. Sure enough, there it was. (See image) All the memories and affection still attached. The emotion swept over me and I had a sweet taste of those days gone by. . . . I thank you sincerely, Mr. Alan Payne, for the wonderful experience I had in sharing your journey. You did a wonderful job telling this very important and fascinating story. Sigh!