Finding Form: Towards an Architecture of the Minimal

Book Description

Explains the current need for buildings that are light, energy-saving, mobile, adaptable, and natural.

Customer Reviews:

Truely inspirational.......2000-05-23

This book takes a closer look at the forms in nature, and deriving architectural design from it.

It is a valuable book for designers who wish to stimulate their creativity through visual inspiration, drawn from nature.

Be inspired by the the source of designers' products.. not their final product...

ON THE SURFACE OF THINGS by Whitesides and Frankel, is another book with extraordinary images; though it doesn't refer to architecture and design, it is very inspirational.

Beautiful and Inspiring.......1999-01-04

This is a beautiful book. Beautiful not in the sense of our usual architectural books that show you Mr. or Ms. Who-and-Who just made another billion dollar project that has a golden ball on top. This book belongs to another category.

This is a book that gets you thinking.

In a way summarized Frei Otto's life-long quest of looking in mother nature for inspirations. The images are stunning. And you do not see them in architectural books. But why do we go only to Corbu or Wright or Calatrava for inspirations while leaving out the world?

Architects are always looking for ways to get out of the box. In terms of inspirations, I think it doesn't get too much better than this.

Book Description

Understanding the passions fueling three of America's most provocative potters

Pottery, Politics, Art uses the medium of clay to explore the nature of spectacle, bodies, and boundaries. The book analyzes the sexual and social obsessions of three of America's most intense potters, artists who used the liminal potentials of clay to explore the horrors and delights of our animal selves.

The book revives from undeserved obscurity the far-southern Illinois potting brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick (1814-90, 1828-96) and examines the significance of the haunting, witty, and grotesque wares of the brothers' Anna Pottery (1859-96). The book then traces the Kirkpatricks' decisive influence on a central figure in the American arts and crafts movement, George Ohr (1857-1918), known as "the Mad Potter of Biloxi" and arguably America's greatest potter. Finally, the book gives a new reading to Ohr's contorted yet lyrical and ecstatic works. Abundant full-color and black-and-white photographs illustrate this remarkable art, with images of many Kirkpatrick and Ohr works being published here for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

For mature pottery connoisseurs.......2003-05-17

Pottery, Politics, Art: George Ohr And The Brothers Kirkpatrick by Richard D. Mohr (Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) scrutinizes the works of three of America's most fervent nineteenth century potters. Black-and-white and full color photographs of the sensual, masterfully wrought works add a visual complement to the thoughtful studies of these classic art pieces, responding to the message of the creators' selves within the pieces. A work of superbly presented scholarship, Pottery, Politics, Art is very highly recommended for mature pottery connoisseurs and academic "Art History" collections.

Average customer rating:

Pottery, Politics, Art: George OHR and the Brothers Kirkpatrick
Richard D. Mohr
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ8NOA

Average customer rating:
Gowland's Guide to Glamour Photography
Peter Gowland
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NSGFXK

Average customer rating:
Gowland's guide to glamour photography
Peter Gowland
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Peter Gowlands New Handbook of Glamour Photography

Secrets of Photographing Women

Classic Glamour Photography: Techniques of the Top Glamour Photographers

Pro Techniques of Beauty & Glamour Photography (Hp Photobooks)

Complete Guide to Beauty & Glamor Photography

ASIN: B0006CPWZ0

Average customer rating:
GOWLAND'S GUIDE TO GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY.
Peter Gowland
Manufacturer: Crown Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ONMA4M

Average customer rating:
Gowland's Guide to Glamour Photography
Peter Gowland
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2EQIG

Average customer rating:
Gowland's Guide to Glamour Photography
Peter Gowland
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2EN70

Book Description

Tune-in your dial to the smashing Top Shelf debut of two young upstarts and witness with wonder as the lives of morally ambiguous characters collide in a train wreck of a graphic novel called PISTOLWHIP! A naïve bellhop`s struggle towards a life`s ambition, an expatriate musician on the runa young woman`s battle with her paranoia and her pastand the mysterious figure who wants to control their lives. Set in an exotic atmosphere of a by-gone era, PISTOLWHIP is a marvelous tale crafted with a crime noir feel and an artistic style reminiscent of the best European graphic novelists. We promise you will be rewarded with each re-reading of this elaborate narrative.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2002-07-22

Good storytelling and innovative visuals make for one of the best graphic novels in years. The twists and turns in the story will have you wanting to read it again as soon as the last page ends. Highly recommended for readers of the graphic medium as well as the more traditional readers out there.

you want this book........2001-10-04

You really want this book. You want it because it is beautiful. You want it because it will confuse you and enchant you and draw you in and make you read it several times until you understand why every line is drawn as it is. It will please you.

A Pulp Noir radio serial in a book !.......2001-09-25

Pistolwhip has an excellent use of the serial format, and the fact that it is in the preferred format of original graphic novel makes this point even better. The twists and turns of the various characters (are they characters or are they actors ?) was delightfully constructed along the lines of a serial with an ensemble cast where the characters change but the cast remain the same.
We find out how the femme became fatale,
how the stooge was set up for a hit job,
and just who is writing the script.
And how he ran away from the circus.

The production of the book, as a facsimile radio/ radio manual is superb. VERY enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

A truly excellent little story...

Pistolwhip Presents: Mephisto and the Empty Box
Jason Hall
Manufacturer: Top Shelf Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006S7XXI

Customer Reviews:

A truly excellent little story..........2007-08-05

It's been several years since I last read this one-shot by Jason Hall, but I feel compelled to say something since there are no other reviews. "Mephisto..." is the story of a man who loses his wife to slight-of-hand magic, and spends his life trying to find her again. I don't want to say too much because I really don't want to give away anything: the surprises (though maybe it's actually predictable, and I'm just not that astute of a reader) are part of its depressing charm.

There are zero words in this comic, therefore the art must tell the whole story, and it does--brilliantly, in my opinion.

Average customer rating:

Followup improves greatly on the original!

Pistolwhip: Yellow Menace
Jason Hall , and Matt Kindt
Manufacturer: Top Shelf Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Mystery | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 189183035X

Book Description

Jack Peril is the beloved hero of radio, comics, and the silver-screen, but is his existence merely fictional? What does a series of grisly murders and a new lecture series condemning the pulse-pounding parables of said Mr. Peril have to do with it all? And just who is The Yellow Menace? Mitch and Charlie, along with Ray (the luckless cop) and Isla (the inquisitive maid), plan to find out!

Customer Reviews:

Followup improves greatly on the original!.......2003-02-20

Last year I read Hall & Kindt's Pistolwhip and thought it was cute, entertaining and a great first effort. I picked up the second volume (not counting the superb Mephisto's Box--a shorter story that packs some great emotional power) expecting more of the same and was floored. The seemingly simple yet complex story and art are still there, but the characters have more depth and the very intriguing references to comics, pulp, noir, et al really add another dimension that I didn't pick up on in the original Pistolwhip. Pick this one up if you enjoy graphic novels, liked the first one, or just want to experience a new kind of storytelling. Plus the index in the back of the book is totally sweet!

Average customer rating:
Scripps: The Divided Dynasty
Jack Casserly
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Journalists | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Journalism | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1556113781

Average customer rating:
Scripps: The Divided Dynasty -- A History of the First Family of American Journalism
Jack Casserly
Manufacturer: NY Donald I. Fine 1993.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUQ4OY

Average customer rating:
Scripps. The Divided Dynasty. A History of the First Family of American Journali
Casserly. Jack
Manufacturer: Donald I. Fine, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O6492A

Book Description

A biography of one of Canada's most distinguished writers, winner of the 1951 Governor General's Award for poetry.

Amazon.com

If you want to learn more about your family, now's the time to start. With the advent of the Internet, there's more information available than ever before, and it's easier to access now than in the good old days of musty libraries and records halls. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy by Rhonda McClure will have you wired and digging up dirt (or gold) in just an hour or two. Even the most ardent computer-hater will have to admit that the search is simpler, and McClure makes the case clearly. Her charming prose is well complemented by online images and hint boxes scattered liberally on each page. Specific sites are mentioned as well as general means of searching for family data, so even if one site disappears you can still get what you need. The book covers the basics of both gathering family data and online searches, so if you're not quite up to speed on one or the other, you can quickly figure it out. After you've browsed a bit and started collecting information, the later chapters help you to communicate with other researchers, mining government records, and even publishing your own results online. It's not hard to learn plenty about your family's history; whether you want to get in touch with your roots, glean medical information to improve your own health, or give your kids something to think about, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is for you. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

You're no idiot, of course. You know that back in the "old country", wherever that may be, there are probably ancient parchments listing your ancestors--and if you could go back, you could trace your lineage to its source. But when it comes to setting off on your personal expedition, time and finances keep you "rooted" in the here and now. Don't give up on discovering where you came from! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy is a fun, easy-to-follow guide to sleuthing around cyberspace to learn about your past--a cost-effective alternative to packing a trunk and setting sail. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy, Second Edition.......2005-09-17

Very informative for the novice Genealogist. Helpful hints of where to look for information both online and in the library.

Great for the classroom.......2001-02-28

I have been using this book in a class I teach at the local Adult Education center. The class is 10 sessions of 3 hours each and the book provides a comprehensive overview on Genealogy on the internet. The author's information is well written and todate 75 students have enjoyed this book with me...

Very good resource book.......2000-10-25

Online Genealogy is a fun hobby that is increasing in popularity. It use to be a hassle trying to contact libraries and record halls by mail or telephone.

The "Idiot's Guide..." will show you everything you need to know to get started setting up your family tree. Make sure you have as much detail, about your history, available when you begin your search, to make things easier.

If you already belong to a genealogy club, this book might seem redundant. But it is a nice reference to have when you don't feel like searching your bookmarks for a specific page.

I bought this for my mother, and she found it very useful. Of course she still writes half of her bookmarks down on paper.

Book Description

It was the greatest battle in naval history with over 250 vessels involved. Yet its outcome depended on the heroism of a handful of sailors and the nerve of the opposing commanders: one kept his nerve while the other lost his.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable, but .........2007-07-07

While this book may be not as well researched as other books on the same subject, I did like and find it easy to read.
I'm not an expert, but I like to read about WWII Pacific battles, so I found a little disturbing 2 mistakes that I read in the book:

1. page 47, it says Kurita was born in 1899. Page 48 it says 'When he was 55 years old, he led the bombardment group assigned to protect the Japanese invasion forces at Midway'. Midway was fought in 1942, so Kurita was 43 (or 42, but not 55);

2. page 365, listing fleet carries in task force 38 (as of Oct. 24, 1944), it names Intrepid, Lexington, Essex, Enterprise and Franklin. Page 366 it reads "You would see five Essex-class fast carries...". No, you would not, because Enterprise was a Yorktown-class carrier.

So if I could find these mistakes, I wonder how many more are still there.
I found maps and diagrams very interesting and helpfull in understanding the situation on the field, something I missed very much in Barrett Tillman's book about the Mariana Turkey Shoot.

A Commanding History of the Largest Naval Battle Ever Fought.......2006-08-04

This is perhaps one of the best scholarly histories of a naval battle you can buy, and a powerfully good account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Although this book is more historically oriented than popularly oriented it is still very enjoyable to read as the author makes a clear effort to humanize all the facts, analysis and context behind what became the largest naval battle ever fought. This makes its long 391 page length (and each individual page is fairly information packed) far easier to digest.

He goes through all phases of the battle, which was actually a campaign of four or five battles depending on how you count, giving equal weight to the American and Japanese perspective. This paints a canvas that allows you to understand the battle in its entirety; how the strategic interplay of both sides' plans, objectives, knowledge of each other, and actions inexorably cast the outcome. Context, fact, analysis and personalized stories are presented concurrently in a seamless and skillful fashion.

He proceeds from the seedlings of the battle, where the Americans and Japanese altered their grand strategies for the war after the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Here the American debates between MacArthur and Nimitz were particularly interesting. The preceeding battles, namely the Air Battle of Formosa, which played a critical role in the upcoming Leyte campaign are then described, followed by every naval facet of the actual Leyte campaign itself that you could want to know. Everything in the book is well researched and extremely detailed. There is also a particular, and highly justified, focus on the actions off Samar on 25 OCT 1944, also memorialized outstandingly in "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors."

This is a highly recommended read for any WWII or Navy history buffs! A lot can be learned about waging wars and fighting battles in general from this pivotal action, and the author does much to teach it to you.

From the daughter of a Leyte Gulf Veteran.......2005-11-07

Kenneth Freidland has done a wonderful job of bringing to life the detailed events leading to and surrounding this gripping story. If ever you wanted to feel good about the military or proud of the values that this country is built upon, you will find it here.

As a historical tribute, there are a lot of details (so many names of so many bombers and all of their targets) that many will be grateful for but some may find bothersome. Deal with it.

Perhaps lost prematurely in a world of competitive publishing that may have overlooked foresight, Freidland's work deserves a bigger audience. (Or perhaps a screenwriter!)

It just might be relevant to the world currently around us.

Compelling reading.......2003-06-10

Interesting book that moves along at a fast pace. Highly recommended for those interested in history.

Where is Task Force 34? The World Wonders.......2002-08-27

The battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of World War II and for all practical reasons, the end of the Japanese navy as a fighting force. Kenneth Friedman has done a superior job of describing each encounter that took place between the Japanese and Americans off the Philippines.

The goal of the Japanese was to destroy the American troop ships anchored off of Leyte. They devised a bold plan to trap the Americans in a pincer movement. One force was to steam through the San Bernadino Strait and attack from the center, while a second group was to attack from the South out of the Surigao Strait. A 3rd force consisting of the Japanese carriers attempted to lure the bulk of the American carrier strength North from the Leyte beachhead, leaving it virtually defenseless. American submarines spotted the Northern force and sank 2 haevy cruisers. The force reversed course, but did not retreat, much to the later surprise of the Americans. Meanwhile, a group of American battleships, some of them Pearl Harbor veterans, thoroughly destroyed the Southern force. However, the center force had regrouped and continued through the San Bernadino Strait. The only force the Americans had guarding the beaches were 3 light carrier forces under the command of Admiral Clifton Sprague. What transpired over the next couple of hours can only be described as a naval miracle. Using sheer courage and excellent tactics, the tiny carriers managed to hold off a force consisting of battleships and heavy cruisers and kept the beachhead safe. Meanwhile, Admiral Halsey's tactics were severely scrutinized. He took the Japanese bait and led his entire force of fast battleships and fleet carriers north to attack the Japanese carriers while leaving the Leyte beachhead virtually defenseless. This prompted Admiral Nimitz to send his famous message: "Where is Task Force 34? The World Wonders". If not for Sprague's heroics, the outcome of this battle could have been much different.

I thought this book was very well written. The author included many tables and charts which helped me understand the battle much better. Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the story of Sprague's escort carriers. The author credits Sprague with saving the day for the Americans. I would highly recommend this book. It flows along at a good pace and does a good job of explaining one of the major battles in U.S. Navy history.

Book Description

Isaiah Berlin: A Celebration gathers tributes, reflections, and commentaries on the great thinker and his philosophy, politics, and life-including contributions from Michael Ignatieff, Leon Wieseltier, Ronald Dworkin, Stephen Spender, and many others.

Book Description

Renaissance and Revolution is a collection of fifteen essays that open up new perspectives on some of the problems presently seen to be associated with the Scientific Revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The topics treated include the dissemination of Greek science, medical empiricism, natural history, the relations of scholars and craftsmen in various walks of life from the fifteenth to the sixteenth centuries, the so-called "mechanical philosophy" in France and England, the work of Isaac Newton, and the difficulties encountered by proponents of Newtonianism in Italy in the early eighteenth century. Figures discussed include Leonardo Fioravanti, Jan Swammerdam, Piero della Francesca, Johannes Hevelius, Jonas Moore, Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, Christiaan Huygens, Francesco Algarotti and Luigi Ferdinando Marsigli. There is an introduction by the editors and an afterword by A. Rupert Hall. The authorship is international, largely consisting of scholars with established reputations as historians but including some newcomers. All the essays are in English.

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