Moorish Architecture in Andalusia (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series)

Book Description

Spain owes its special historical position in Europe very largely to his intensive encounter with the Orient. In the summer of 710, a small force under the command of a Berber named TarÃ®f ibn MÃ¢lik landed to the west of Gibraltar. The Islamic armies that followed in its wake succeeded in conquering large areas of Spain within a short span of years. The conquerors gave the country the name of "al-andalus." Thus began a period of cultural permeation that was to last for almost 800 years. In spite of intolerance and animosity, there developed between Muslims, Christians, and Jews a shared cultural environment that proved the basis for great achievements.

Moorish-Andalusian art and architecture combine elements of various traditions into a new, autonomous style. Among the outstanding architectural witnesses to this achievement are the Great Mosque in Cordova and the Alhambra in Granada, recognized and admired as part of the world's heitage right up to the present day. They are described in detail in this book. The main centres of Hispano-Islamic art and architecture, the cities of Cordova, Seville and Granada, are discussed within the chronological framework of developments, both political and cultural, from 710 to 1492.

The author traces the changes in architectural forms over the centuries, and concludes with an attempt to identify those enduring characteristics which run like a thread through Hispano-Islamic architecture, for all the different influences to which it was subject. Alongside mosques, castle ruins, and splendid palaces, the reader will find detailed photographs of Moorish decorative art in all its thousand and one variations.

Customer Reviews:

A Steal of a Deal .......2007-05-05

I am not doing this review to acquaint readers with what this book covers, for the above editorial review does that well. Rather, I want to make sure that readers know that in spite of selling for so little, this book offers all one would expect from a book published by Taschen: superb colored photography, line drawings, maps, a glossary of terms and, of course, good writing/explanations. Marvel at your good fortune at finding such a bargain, and be assured that the coverage of Cordoba's Great Mosque and the Alhambra is superb.

P.S. Just how much of a bargain? Change only the picture on its cover, and you'll find that copies of the paperback start at $39.89, the hardback at $119.99!

Moorish Architecture in Andalusia (Architecture & Design Series)

Average customer rating:

Alhambra
Nice pictures and good texts
A non-professional view
A non-professional view
First global Andalusia view

Moorish Architecture in Andalusia (Architecture & Design Series)
Marianne Barrucand , and Achim Bednorz
Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Byzantine | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Islamic | World | History | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 3822876348

Customer Reviews:

Alhambra.......2006-01-13

This is an excellent book with the most beautiful photos of Alahambra. If you are spanish, travelling to spain or a muslim you must have this book. There are very nice maps too.

Nice pictures and good texts.......2004-05-07

Recommended for travelers to Andalusia who want to get something more than they usually get from guided tours. Also good for all those who wants to see what poor Europeans did with great architecture of Moors.

A non-professional view.......2003-03-15

I just have a love of architecture, for the art of it. This is a beautiful book. The photographs are breathtaking. The writing actually interested me in the history of an area I had never even thought about before.I would have liked to have seen some of the more humble ,common buildings though.

A non-professional view.......2003-03-15

First global Andalusia view.......2000-09-01

If you need a global view of Andalusia architecture, this is your book. Complete vision around this beautiful country along the time. The pics have a great quality, and the best of them, are two-pages sized. Yo'll see great panoramic views and detailled, too.

Arquitectura Islamica / Moorish Architecture in Andalusia

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Arquitectura Islamica / Moorish Architecture in Andalusia
Marianne Barrucand , and Achim Bednorz
Manufacturer: Benedikt Taschen Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

An Unexpected Find.......2004-05-05

I stumbled across The Oil Painter's Question and Answer Book while browsing the art instruction books at a local bookstore. I almost passed it by because of a dated looking greenish cover, but as soon as I opened it to glance at the contents I was intrigued. When I looked at the cover price of 14.99, I grabbed it.
The book is a full sized art instruction book with hundreds of color illustrations and pictures. It's typical of the type of book that commonly sells for $25 to $30 list price and around $20 to $25 on Amazon. It appears to be a reissue of an original volumne published in 1989, which may account for the bargain price.
The basic approach of the book is present a student painting of a particular subject and then, with the use of a professional painting of exactly the same subject, illustrate solutions to problems identified in the original work. For instance, one example poses the student's question, "There is no feeling of space in my painting; what have I done wrong?" The student work that follows is not a bad attempt, but on the facing page is exactly the same landscape demonstrating just how it can be so much more effective. The text explains the problem - the mistakes the student has made - and then lays out the solution. The side by side 'before and after' comparison is enomously effective, and the written explanations are concise and well done. The approach is something like you might find in a painting workshop where the instructor puts your work on his easel and begins to illustrate how it can be made better. This format continues throughout the book with subjects like the following:
For a sweeping landscape, "I did this landscape from life, but I seem to have lost the feeling of emptiness."
A forest scene without much focal point, "My greens look dead and dull; how can I make them more vibrant?"
"I'm not happy with the composition of this portrait; it looks awkward and ugly."
The same process is applied to issues such as painting whites, skin tones, color harmony, foregrounds, creating drama, space and recession, personal statements, and much more. Each 'expert' painting is done by a different artist, so we see a variety of solutions, not just those of the author.
Scattered among these mini-lessions are some nice discussions of color, brush work, impasto, and, my favorite, avoiding muddy neutrals (grays).
I have two book shelves full of art instuction books. I don't know of any that do a better job of illustrating how to correct common painting problems. I'm an intermediate to advanced student of oil painting, and I found many great ideas and concepts that I will try to incorporate in my own work. I'm still reading the book which I recently took on a business trip instead of my unsual escapist fiction. It's great reading. I would recommend it at twice the price. Nicely done.

Customer Reviews:

Captivating Coffee Table Book.......2004-10-10

The wonderful Brynner's excellent photography is showcased here with a great assortment of pictures, assembled by his daughter. She tends to overdo it with her prose, as I suppose any adoring daughter would, but the moody B&W images are the star here...so skip right to them and enjoy a glimpse back at the times captured by the talented actor/photographer.

A Wonderful Actor, An Even Better Photographer.......2000-04-26

Yul Brynner was a very good actor. A lot of people know that. What most people don't know is that he was also a brilliant photgrapher.

This book is just beautiful. It has pictures of Yul himself, taking pictures of other people; Yul's family; and of course, what we all want to see, photos of his famous friends. Only he could photogrpah Liz Taylor, swimming in the pool with her daughter, without any makeup on, or Deborah Kerr standing with a color palet over her head, while the director of "The King And I" tries to decide what color her hair will be in the film. His daughter, who edited the book, wrote that her father was charmed by Ingrid Bergman's beauty, and it certainly shows - we see some wonderful, candid pictures of this great actress in the book, too. Also included are pictures taken on the sets of his famous movies - "The Ten Commandments", "Anastasia", "The King And I", and "The Magnificent Seven", and pictures of his celebrity friends, including: Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston, Jean Cocteu, Kay Kendall, Charlie Chaplin,Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, Richard Burton and Salvador Dali.

My favourite photos, however, are of his (later ex) wife, Doris. You can see that he really loved her - like he loved each and every one of the people he photgraphed. They trusted him, and gave them the best gift possible -his art.

Book Description

6X7 In, 112 Pp, 100 Cartoon Illustrations Is Owning A Ranch Owning The American Dream? Or Is It Owning An Overdue Mortgage? It's All How You Look At It. Now, From One of Our Best-Selling Authors Comes A Book That Gives You A True Look At The West, No Matter What Your Opinion. Read It One Way, and Benefits of Being A Cowboy Shine Through The Settin' Sun. Turn It Upside-Down and Backwards (Or Was It That Way To Begin With?), and You'll Wonder Why The Sun Even Bothered To Rise.

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50 Good Reasons to be a Cowboy
Texas Bix Bender
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GR54R6

50 Good Reasons to Be a Cowboy/50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy: 50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy

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50 Good Reasons to Be a Cowboy/50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy: 50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy
Texas Bix Bender
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000U3315I

Average customer rating:

50 Good Reasons to Be a Cowboy/50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy: 50 Good Reasons Not to Be a Cowboy

Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HED4LG

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Valuable Information

Inspiring, easy to read guide helps teens make good choices

Practical wisdom and insight, delightfully written!

This book moved me and put me on the right path.

Writes about things teens deal with every day.

Choice is Yours: A Teenager's Guide to Self-Discovery, Relationships, Values, and Spritual Growth
Bonnie Parsley
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books
Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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The Teenager's Guide to the Real World

The Real Truth About Teens and Sex : From Hooking Up to Friends with Benefits -- What Teens Are Thinking, Doing, andTalking About, and How to Help Them Make Smart Choices

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0671750461

Customer Reviews:

Valuable Information.......2001-02-20

This book contains valuable information for teen and parent alike. A necessary book for parents, a book in which a teen can find making their own choices and looking a different perspectives can and will help in making difficult decisions. A book written with everyday situations that we can relate too! This book is worth more than 5 stars.

Inspiring, easy to read guide helps teens make good choices.......1999-04-28

I recommend this book for all teenagers. If you're a parent buy it for your child the moment he/she turns 13. This easy to read book guides teens through the many challenges they will face during adolscence, helps them understand their struggles and inspires them to make good choices. As a family therapist and parent educator, I have recommended this book to hundreds of teens who have told me that they like it because it doesn't talk down to them.

Practical wisdom and insight, delightfully written!.......1999-04-23

Bonnie has written the book I wish I'd had as a teenager! She writes with a perspective that rings true for both pre-teens and young adults. I find it inspiring from a grandparent's vantage point now, as well!

This book moved me and put me on the right path........1999-04-06

The Choice is Yours is an invaluable book for any young person. It is entertaining and easy to read, unlike many books of this type, and helped me to realize who I am and what is important to me, without trying to brainwash me. It taught me how to think intelligently, and in a way which helps me to succeed in life. I highly recommend Mrs. Parsley's book to any other teens or their parents.

Writes about things teens deal with every day........1999-03-26

The book is written simply and clearly and gives teens a healthy way of dealing with daily problems. Without preaching, it gives insight into specifics about responsibility, spirituality and the process of growing up. Gives common sense decision making.

Customer Reviews:

If I could rate it zero stars I would have.......2007-06-22

The book is sloppily researched and uses too much uneducated opinion. Bonekemper is certainly no military theorist or tactician. The author allows for no discussions of alternate opinions and presumes too much. I new look at Lee and his generalship is long overdue, but I owuld not waste your money on this. Try Emory Thomas or if you hate Lee this much, read Connelly's the Marble Man. At least Connelly's was well researched even if I do not agree with the opinion. That so many here pile on the praise of this book I would suggest taking a basic course in military theory.

A couple of thoughts for you to ponder. What would the Confederacy have done if Richmond had fallen? That the author claims that Lee bled his army white shows his lack of knowledge about other contemporary battles, particualrly Solferino and the Napoleonic Wars.

If Longstreet was not wounded at the Wilderness, Grant would have beeen forced back across the Rapidan.

The author makes a better case with his book on Grant, but this is garbage.

A review.......2007-06-19

Bonekemper has written a book that many Civil War history buffs will find outrageously controversial. His thesis, that Gen. Lee lost a winnable war through incompetent leadership, is broken down into the following claims:

1) By taking the war into the North, Lee followed an ill-conceived strategy that had no chance of ultimate success. He could not maintain himself in supply at that distance from his base. He would eventually have to retreat, making it seem like he had been defeated, whether he had been or not. Further, he was making poor use of the two strategic advantages that the South had: a) they did not have to conquer the North in order to win the war, they only had to outlast them; and b) with their internal lines of communication, they could shift men and resources to the places where they most needed them.

2) Lee's strategical viewpoint was influenced by his focus on the war in the East, and particularly the war in Virginia. He demanded and received the best of everything the South had to offer, and used it to fight for Virginia rather than for the South as a whole. He ignored important developments in the West, and denied that theatre resources that might have prevented its collapse. This myopia eventually allowed his own forces to be cut off and surrounded.

3) Lee's strategy was made even worse by his preference for being on the offensive tactically. He failed to grasp that technological changes in weaponry had made massed charges on well-prepared defensive fortifications tantamount to suicide. He sent his soldiers into numerous assaults on Northern positions, that, even when they succeeded in driving back the enemy, were using up his manpower resources at an unsustainable rate.

4) Compounding the above errors, Lee was not good at managing his army. He failed to provide himself with an adequate staff that could oversee the carrying out of his orders. His orders themselves were often vague, discretionary, and delivered verbally so that they were subject to misinterpretation and distortion.

Anyone who is not wed to the image of Lee as a brilliant military commander will probably find himself being swayed by Bonekemper's arguments. Although born and raised in the South, my opinions on the Civil War make me an honorary Yankee. Therefore, I was entirely open to reading criticism of Lee, in spite of his iconic status. I found that at some point, though, I began to lose confidence in Bonekemper's objectivity. No possible objections to his viewpoint are presented or answered. He sets up the facts he want the reader to focus on, and ignores everything else. Nowhere does he mention that the idea of an invasion of the North was promoted by Johnston before Lee ever took command, or that it was also floated by Jackson at the end of his Valley campaign. Nowhere does he mention that the weight of public opinion in the South was completely opposed to a defensive war, and would probably have forced the resignation of any general who attempted to fight in that manner. (Lee could hardly have argued in favor of a defensive war using the prestige that he only enjoyed due to his willingness to go on the offensive.) Nor does Bonekemper mention the material advantages in resources and advanced weaponry enjoyed by the North that would have made a defensive war unlikely to succeed. Although weaponry made great technological advances during the war, the South did not possess the advanced weaponry as soon or in the same quantity as the North. For example, the South's retreat in the face of McClellan's advance during the Peninsula campaign was necessitated by their lack of long range guns that could respond to an artillery bombardment by Northern batteries.

That said, I think there is some truth in Bonekemper's book, even if he does overstate his case. The South did not lose solely because of the decisions of one man, but Lee does bear some of the responsibility for the loss (not that I would have wanted the outcome to be different). Had Bonekemper tempered his arguments and taken into account some of the possible objections, this would be a much stronger book. Even so, I think it is worth reading for those who already have some knowledge of the issues. It is not a good book to start with in learning about the Civil War, though, and it is definitely not the last word on its subject.

Excellent Study.......2006-07-01

This is a very thought provoking look at Lee's career. Read with THE REASON THE SOUTH LOST and WHY THE NORTH WON, it gives one a very different view of the relative capabilities of the generals involved and the constraints placed on both sides -- both physical and emotional. Lee undoubtedly has to bear the major blame for the South's defeat -- Bonekemper details and quantify's Lee's shortcomings in his grasp of strategy and the South's resources. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it whether you agree with his argument or not.

Lee's Myopia.......2003-08-14

Calling Robert E. Lee myopic in any context of the war he fought is crazy. Lee followed a strategy that was highly tuned to Southern desires. His strategy was well calculated to exert influence in the North and the crowned thugs in Europe. Lee could see a truth in the war nobody else could see, the war could be lost in either the east or west but only won in the east. Lee knew his men in the east were superior to the generals in the west, this however gave Lee no satisfaction but he did know it. As far as Lee being too aggressive is out of play as well. The southerners demanded aggressiveness and clamored for one thing, more war! Lee's style was exactly what southern temperment required. Look at what he achieves during the war and any one can see that because he was not successful does not mean he was wrong. At Seven Days he saved Richmond, at second Manassas he gave Lincoln a true emergency and at Chancellorsville, with the exception of Grant, haunts all other generals in the North during the rest of the war. Lee alone gave the Confederacy its only chance of victory and lived a life that was a vibrant heritage to everyone. So all of you on the Robert E. Lee myopia train need to get off, quit playing Monday morning quarterback and start studying a piece of history that can hold some water.

Should be paired with J.L. Harsh's "Confederate Tide Rising".......2001-12-24

If you're interested in this book, you should also read "Confederate Tide Rising" for well researched counterpoint. I enjoyed both perspectives. A warning about this book: you'll want to have a Civil War era map to refer to while reading since the descriptions of army movements/battle logistics gets very dense. It would have been better if the book included such maps since the author goes into blow-by-blow accounts of several battles. I don't see how he could expect normal readers to keep up with the information without some visuals aids. I give 4 stars for the author's competent writing--not necessarily for his conclusions. Some reviewers gave this book a bad review because they disagree with his conclusions which is o.k. but that doesn't mean the book is written badly.

Customer Reviews:

The Eagle Is A Great Symbol........2006-09-25

Subject: Proud & Free (Cherokees)

In this one, we have a woman of valor wiht a man of honor. Fiction,
right!
There are no men of honor anymore. The proud is Temple, part Cherokee,
living in
Georgia and forced to walk to Oklahoma along the trial of tears. For
eight
years, the Cherokee Nation presented one treaty after another, to stay
where
they were. The reservation on the Tennessee/North Carolina border and
the
detention camps are factual. Cherokees had their own constitution and
laws, also an
elected government headed by wise women. The Indians revered their
older women.
There is a bust of one in the Whittle Courtyard for all to see.

Bur free, only Stuart the honorable was white and free. This is a
rehash of
the Pocohatus and John Smith story. Being part Cherokee myself, from my
father's paternal side, I once wrote an article for a senior online
newsletter about
my encounters with actual real Indians. A few months ago, there was a
fierce
one from out West who demanded a dollar from me as I was alone waiting
for the
city bus. He appeared so ferocious I felt it was in my best interest to
give
him a one dollar bill, though I told him where he could get a free meal
-- that
a dollar wouldn't buy much.

This book traces the Cherokee nation from 1830 to the end of the
journey to
Oklahoma in 1840. It might seem like a good romance to those not
educated, or
have no first-hand experience with the Cherokees. I had a temp job in a
factory
in Pulaski doing computer work with a group from Oklahoma; people there
who
did not know me thought I was one of them! Because of the way they were
treated
by one of the Tennessee Presidents (I like to blame Johnson, but it
could
have been Jackson -- both named Andrew), many of today's offspring are
unbalance
and consider Tennessee as a war ground. The harassers from out West may
be
free for now, but they have nothing real to be proud about, of, or for.
It does
no good to let them know I'm part Cherokeee, as "part" doesn't count.

I understand now why my sister absolutely refused to admit to even one
tiny
drop of Indian blood. Though, Eileen looked just like an Indian squaw,
as did
Teresa after she was married and fat. Some segments of today's society
can be
and are extremely cruel to minorities. Little do they realize that the
so-called minorities will take over and call the shots, and they are
not educated.
They have nothing to be proud of as they've always had everything given
to them,
not have to work and succeed on their own. Temple decides to trust her
man,
honorable "traitor" Stuart, as she let her heart rule her emotions. A
foolish
decision. Women must be strong and stay strong.

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Cherokee Messenger (First Edition)

Manufacturer: UNIV. OF OKLAHOMA PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I5W7DU

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Cherokee Messenger
Althea Bass
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KM10MU

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Cherokee Messenger
Althea Bass
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KLY1AE

Me about me: The story of my life from the Cherokee Strip to Wenatchee, Washington

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Me about me: The story of my life from the Cherokee Strip to Wenatchee, Washington
Jabin Vinsen Rogers
Manufacturer: s.n.]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006RV6MS

Book Description

Gauge theory, which underlies modern particle physics as well as the theory of gravity, and hence all of physics as we know it today, is itself based on a few fundamental concepts, the consequences of which are often as beautiful as they are deep. Unfortunately, in view of the pressure to cover aspects of the theory that are necessary for its many important applications, very little space is usually devoted in textbooks and graduate courses to the treatment of these concepts. The present small volume is an attempt to help in some degree to redress this imbalance in the literature.

The topics covered are elementary in the sense of being basic, not in the sense of being shallow or easy. Although all will already feature at the classical field level, and most even before the introduction of an action principle, they often lead one to pose some quite profound questions, so that much of the material treated is by necessity at the front line of research. The approach adopted is physically motivated, although there is no hesitation in introducing mathematical concepts when they are a help to understanding. In the presentation, little is assumed of the reader, and no pains has been spared to make the whole volume understandable to researchers in other fields and to graduate students, provided that the reader is willing to devote sufficient effort required by the subject matter. On the other hand, neither has there been any conscious attempt to avoid essential difficulties, or to trivialise concepts which are intrinsically abstruse. It is thus hoped that the result will be enjoyable reading for researchers and students alike.

Customer Reviews:

A precious little book about a beautiful subject.......2000-03-29

I love this little guy. Written by two students of the eminent theoretical physicist Chen-Ning Yang, it captures all the essential features of Yang's (and Mills') beautiful idea: the deep and powerful geometrical interpretation of general (classical and quantum) fields derived from the deceptively simple principle of gauge invariance. Although it requires some knowledge of field theory, it doesn' t force the reader to study hundreds of pages of prerequisites to understand the topics treated. It follows a very wise philosophy about the maths of gauge theory, by not slaughtering the reader's mind with lots of differential geometry right at the beginning of the book, although it accomplishes to discuss even some quite esoteric topics, as how Alain Connes' noncommutative geometry may arise in non-conventional field theories (e.g., string theory). Even people already acknowledged with gauge theories may learn one or more things from this book.

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