The Rockefeller Family Home: Kykuit

Customer Reviews:

Rockefeller Crown Jewel.......2005-06-21

This is a wonderful book on an amazing house. The history of the home is very interesting and the text highly informative. The Rockefeller's are synonomous with money, so you expect their estate to me magnificent, Kykuit does not disappoint, the images of the estate inside and out are very well turned out. The estate is amazing in that it is huge, but somehow warm, it's not bombastic like the Vanderbilt palaces, it is somehow more human. There is an understated elegance about the mansion, I mean understated by the lofty heights of the great American rich of course. This is a nice testement to an amazing home and an equally amazing family. In the true philanthropic tradition of John D. Rockefeller II, the house is in a trust for all to enjoy. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the least bit of interest in quenticential american success stories and what can be created with such great wealth.

First Class, Rockefeller Style.......2001-03-14

Perfection may not be attainable, but as a beautiful book and a model study of a landmark work of architecture and landscape architecture this volume sets a high standard indeed. The photography is superb, the book design elegant, the production sumptuous. The subject in fact might be somewhat overwhelmed by the presentation, were the subject merely the "Big House" at Kykuit itself. The building was somewhat of a compromise design, remodeled once, involving two architects and an interior designer (all first class, of course). It is not the architecture of the main building, if tasteful, that alone warrants this lavish production, but rather it is the ensemble--the magnificent gardens featuring an important collection of sculpture, the interior enriched by a collection of art and sensitive decor, the varied ancillary structures, including Japanese structures, and the intimate view of Rockefeller family life at Kykuit. The text is unpretentious but well crafted. One suspects that every detail has been carefully researched and considered for relevance to the general reader. The tone is apt. A very talented and skilled team has produced a well-neigh perfect work of art about an important work of art.

Hudson Valley Treasure-Trove.......2000-05-04

As early as the 17th century, Dutch New Yorkers built family compounds in the Hudson River Valley north of Manhattan. Completed in 1913 for Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, Kykuit (the names comes from the Dutch, "lookout")has been home to four generations of Rockefeller family members. Now owned by the National Trust for Historic Sites, Kykuit has only recently been open to the public.

The Beaux Arts estate, built by architects Delano and Aldrich, with formal gardens designed by landscape architect William Welles Bosworth, is a treasure-trove of rare antiques, fine furnishings, and invaluable artworks, most notably, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's (the last family member to occupy the estate) unparalleled collection of 20th-century sculpture.

Written by Nelson Rockefeller's daughter, Ann Rockefeller Roberts, and photographed by Mary Louise Pierson, his granddaughter, "Kykuit" provides intimate details of family life that breathe live into what might have been just another coffee-table book about the fabulously wealthy.

"Kykuit" is a must-have for anyone interested in exceptional gardens, architecture and fine arts.

Book Description

Video production requires a high degree of organization to be a success. Good organization will require a proper diary to be kept of your production. It is the understanding of the paperwork and its organization that will make your production either a success or a failure.

Explained in accessible terms and assuming little prior knowledge of the subject, this book will help you to: plan successful procedures for all stages of a video production; produce paperwork logically to get professional results; understand the basic principles of setting up and running your own business; avoid common (and costly) pitfalls.

If you are a student who wishes to learn about all aspects of planning and documenting a video production, from conceptualization right through to final screening, this book is for you. It is particularly suitable for the City and Guilds Media Techniques Certificate: Television and Video Production Competences.

This book complements the other three titles in the series, which allow you to understand the overall process of video production, and then look in more detail at sound and lighting.

·Improve your production management skills with this accessible introduction to planning procedures for all stages of video production.
·Learn how to produce paperwork logically to get professional results
·Tips provided to help you avoid common (and costly) pitfalls

Average customer rating:

Basics of the Video Production Diary
Des Lyver
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ8480

Average customer rating:

very good

Profitable Photography: Start and Run a Money-Making Business
Geza Szurovy
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Professional | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business, 5th (Home-Based Business Series)

Photographers Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business: Everything you need to know to run a successful photography business

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (with CD-ROM) (Business and Legal Forms)

The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion

2007 Photographers Market (Photographer's Market)

ASIN: 0070630224

Book Description

no description

Customer Reviews:

very good.......2006-11-10

This book was very helpful in writing the conracts I needed and to help me understand a bit more on the basics of starting my own photography bissness.

Book Description

The book consists of three parts: The first part reviews the development in axiomatic utility theory under risk since the axiomatization of expected utility by von Neumann and Morgenstein. The second part explores some approaches to represent preferences which exhibit boundary effects. The third part shows that many results of insurance economics derived in the expected utility framework do not remain valid with non-expected utility theory.

Non-Archimedean Utility Theory (Theory and Decision Library)

Average customer rating:

Non-Archimedean Utility Theory (Theory and Decision Library)
H.J. Skala
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Microeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Methodology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 9027703523

Average customer rating:

NON-ARCHIMEDEAN UTILITY THEORY
Skala
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N6F3NK

Book Description

Easy-to-understand, practical and concise, this text is the single-volume source for Pennsylvania-specific information for students taking the pre-license real estate course. Step-by-step explanations of presented concepts make learning real estate principles easy for all users. Study features such as end of chapter summary points and review questions further assist the exam preparation process.

Pennsylvania real estate: Fundamentals & practice

Average customer rating:

Pennsylvania real estate: Fundamentals & practice
Ralph A Palmer
Manufacturer: Gorsuch Scarisbrick, Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0897879457

Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals and Practices

Average customer rating:

Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals and Practices
Ralph A. Palmer
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU2WUY

Average customer rating:
Dollars & Cents of Shopping Centers 1998: A Study of Receipts and Expenses in Shopping Center Operations (Dollars and Cents of Shopping Centers)
Michael D. Beyard , Kevin Peterkin , and Jeffrey Kegler
Manufacturer: Urban Land Inst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0874208645

Book Description

Captain Robert Gormly served 29 years as a Navy SEAL, the United States's elite military force, where he undertook the most dangerous missions in the history of the nation. Combat Swimmer is an autobiographical account of Capt. Gormly's life as a SEAL: acting as platoon leader in SEAL Team Two in Vietnam, and later as commanding officer of that team; as the executive Officer of UDT-22, and as commanding officer of the legendary SEAL Team Six. This thrilling real-life story takes readers through the fiery life of a man who can literally be called "the best of the best."

Praise for Combat Swimmer:

"Gormly is a warrior for the working day...in a harsh world, it will comfort many to know that men with Gormly's spirit, character, and patriotism, wear this country's uniform." --Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Three Soldiers' Stories.......2005-06-14

I've never served in the military, but I have great respect for those who follow that kind of life. I also have great interest in history, military strategy and tactics, and behavior in combat situations. I therefore checked out the following special-forces-related books from the library: Rogue Warrior, by Marcinko, Combat Swimmer, by Gormly, and Inside Delta Force, by Haney.

Marcinko's book is a classic testosterone-driven, adolescent Hollywood adventure story. I mean that in a (mostly) good way. The author's focus is on himself, on his grand escapades, and his ability to destroy his enemies, whether at war or in the chain of command. It makes for a fun read, although I never knew how much Marcinko might be inflating his exploits.

Gormly is in many ways the anti-Marcinko. Of course they knew each other, and Gormly goes into some detail about inheriting Marcinko's SEAL team and getting the house back in order. But more than that, Marcinko represents the unihibited ego, breaking all the rules and doing whatever he wants. Gormly is all about responsibility and chain of command. Don't get me wrong; he's not at all boring, but definitely comes off as a stiffer sort of character. I'd rather work for Gormly (more job security; less likely to get killed unexpectedly) but I'd rather have a beer with Marcinko (though too much of that, and you probably increase your chances of getting killed unexpectedly).

Haney strikes somewhat of a balance. He's more individualistic than Gormly, but more disciplined than Marcinko. He's also the best writer of the three, with a good mix of gritty reality and genuine philosophical reflection. That's probably why I liked his book the best. Marcinko's book is a fun ride, like a blockbuster action movie, but in the end didn't leave me with much to think about. After reading Gormly's book, I admired the man a great deal but didn't particularly like him. Haney provides all the adventure but he's clearly more of a thinker than the other two, and I can imagine a long, fascinating evening's conversation over a bottle of scotch.

I suspect that you would find all three types of individuals (and many more) in the military, and you probably need all of them to get the job done. All three memoirs are highly entertaining and quick reads. Which you prefer probably depends to some extent on your own personality.

Why everyone thinks that NAVY SEAL is the best.......2005-06-09

< >

How do you know that Seal is the best? What the hell you mean by universally recognized? And beleive me you're not the first person who assumes that navy seal to be the best special operation force. Do you know that 80% of Seals never see combat in their career? The real thing doesn't look anything close like people's perception.

Let's just say that I've been an infantriman for a little while and I'll admit that BUD training is very hard, but from a PURE PHYSICAL ASPECT, Spetsnaz is probably the hardest and the training can last up to five years. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, I've worked with Seals and Special Forces, and trust me, the Rambo aura people have about them is just what it is - an aura. They're highly trained individuals that can undertake very dificult missions that conventional force can't, but they're no supermen.

The British has among the finest and most elite special operations forces in the World, the SAS and SBS. They set the standard for special operations. And don't even start with the Israelis. When it come to low intensity warfare, their troops and special forces are more combat experience dthan anybody in the World.

Within the U.S armed Forces, the most elite special operations goup, Delta Force, is based on the SAS model. Delta has the lowest qualification rate than anybody in the U.S Armed Forces and Delta recruits from all branches of the military, including other special operations.

I think that one of the reasons that people think that navy seal is the best is because of good PR. I mean navy seal is the most popular of all the U.S special operations. More movies and documentaries have been made about navy seal than any other group. When was the last time anybody has seen a documentary about Delta Force Training. Part of your statement is right though. There's really a mystic about Navy Seal, but that doesn't make them the best. Hell, no combat group has been more mystified and romanticied than the French Foreign Legion. It's really a great fighting force, but that doesn't make them the best.

I don't want to take away anything from the frogmen, but people has to stop that better than anybody view they have of the Seal. They're exceptional soldiers with exceptional skills but the world doesn't revolve around them. They excel and fail just like everybody else.

P.S: By the way, this was a great book. I truly enjoy it.

Great Memoir.......2005-05-30

Bob Gormly wrote a great book on his 30 year experiences as a Navy SEAL. He recounts how he passed the most gruelling toughest training in the world to be a SEAL. His 2 tours of duty in Vietnam are filled with pulse pounding action. He then led the most elite of SEAL's, SEAL team 6, into combat in Grenada. I really liked his discussion of Richard Marcinko the convicted felon who founded six and left it's reputation tarnished. This is a great book for those interested in SEALs or Special Operations Forces. Thanks Bob for this great memoir.

"a rollicking, good, and quick read".......2004-09-08

There's a definite mystique unique to Navy SEALs. The Marine's Force Recon and the Air Force's PJs don't have it. US Army Rangers have a part of it, but only within the military community. It is a universally recognized fact that SEALs are King Badasses. The Britons know this, as do the Israelis, Russians, Congolese and everyone else.

(Ret.) Captain Robert Gormly's "Combat Swimmer: Memoirs of a Navy SEAL" breaks down this mystique step-by-step without lessening the esteem of SEALs. Combat Swimmer increases it. Gormly himself is in a unique position to deliver this enlightenment. Having joined the SEALs shortly after their creation (or, more accurately, their evolution from UDTs - the Underwater Demolition Teams of top-notch WWII frogmen). Like most books on SEALs, Gormly begins his book with the rigorously infamous training of SEALs wannabes, taking the reader through Hell week. One page reads:

Waddell stormed out of the instructor's hut and yelled "Class, ten hut." We snapped to attention. "Hit the deck." Sixty bodies slammed onto the wet asphalt, IBLs [bulky, heavy inflatable boats] crashing down on top of us. "Lean and rest." Sixty bodies pushed themselves (and the IBLs) up to the beginning position for push-ups: arms extended and locked under your chest, feet straight out behind you. I thought we we going to do push-ups until Instructor Waddell got tired-which might be a long time, since he'd been off all day resting. "Bernie," Blas said, "what are you doing? I'm in charge of this evolution. You can't just come out here and start giving my men orders." "Tom, you're being to easy on these pukes." "Bernie, these guys are tired-they've been working aaaaalll day." As the two instructors went on and on, my arms started quivering. The boat got heavier. And heavier. They did the good-guy-bad-guy routine for what seemed like an hour and was probably no more than three minutes. Finally: "Okay, Tom, I guess you're right. They do look tired. Class, on your feet," roared Instructor Waddell. I pulled my feet up under me, urging my men not to drop the boat. The instructors had already warned us to "take care of your equipment-it will take care of you." We struggled to attention. "Hit the deck, lean and rest," Blais yelled. "I'm in charge of you people, *I* give the orders." And so it went until they got tired. It was great to see the two instructors working in unison. We all appreciated the lesson in teamwork. When they finished playing with us, we hauled ass.

The rest of the book keeps the same fresh tone, making for a very enjoyable read. Gormly talks about his two tours in Vietnam, where the SEALs specialized in "taking the fight to Viet Cong, harassing them beyond the front lines, where they thought they were safe." Interestingly, Gormly notes that the mystique of SEALs worked as much against them as it did in their favor. The North Vietnamese had offered a $10,000 bounty for any SEAL, dead or alive, but Gormly's own superior officers had very little understanding of how make best use of SEAL capabilities. In most cases, they were simply told to kill as many enemies as possible and were given carte blanch to do it. Keeping in standard military memoir format, Gormly does talk a little about what went wrong with the war he fought in, liking Vietnamese situation to fighting with a giant lizard - the tail (soldiers) we kept cutting off (killing) kept growing back (new recruits). What we shouldn've done was lop off the head (concentrate on killing the top generals and political liaisons to China). Gormly finishes with his time in the Pentagon, working to combat drug lords between missions like Urgent Fury (the effort to free US hostages in Grenada) and Gulf War I.

In summation, the book is a rollicking, good, and quick read. Because of it's relative obscurity, it can be found for astounding value (I purchased mine used from Amazon for $1.84). I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the passage above.

A well written book(planetharmonia@hotmail.com).......2004-08-13

An honest, well-written book. Capt. Gormly was the first CO to lead SEAL TEAM 6 into combat. This is a must read for those interested in the evolution of TEAM 6. A very revealing book! It also answered Numerous questions I had after reading the Rogue Warrior novel, with its numerous vague references, and down right misinformation. Thank you Mr. Gormly for your book and its invaluable information that others will refer to when they want historical truth. Bottom line, Well worth reading!
OH...the chapter concerning the downing of Seawolf 1-5 may have an error. The pilot named Soto was on Seawolf 1-4 that night according to the latest book by Daniel E. Kelly. Anyway, thank you for a valuable book for historians and the ages.

Average customer rating:

Backyard Birding

Great guide

Great book! Lots of info on nestboxes..

Horrid

The Backyard Birdhouse Book: Building Nestboxes and Creating Natural Habitats
René Laubach , and Christyna M. Laubach
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Birds | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Ornithology | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers

The Best Birdhouses for Your Backyard

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

The Complete Birdhouse Book: The Easy Guide to Attracting Nesting Birds

Enchanting Woodland Birdhouses

ASIN: 1580171729

Book Description

Includes complete plans for 8 easy-to-build birdhouses tailored to the specific needs of 25 cavity-nesting species. Everything a reader needs to know to become a backyard bird conservationist.

Customer Reviews:

Backyard Birding.......2007-01-12

excellent for the backyard birder. It offers really useful ideas for attracting birds and keeping them coming to your yard.

Great guide.......2006-07-24

I was sent this then-new book seven or eight years ago to review for my newspaper column on birds, and found it to be an excellent guide, not only on how to build boxes for all sorts of cavity-nesting birds, but also how to deal with problems like predators and pests. I built one of the boxes; it went together well and has served quite a few feathered families over the past five or six years.

Great book! Lots of info on nestboxes.........2006-03-27

I was interested in putting up some birdhouses (nestboxes) in my backyard and trying to attract some of the more exotic birds, etc... I checked out about a dozen books form the library.. Well, this one hands down was the best...

Book starts out by going over the birds you would want to attract to your nestboxes, with pictures and bios on all the birds, such as bluebirds, chickadees, titmouses, etc.... Then it goes into the nestboxes, pro and cons of certain nestboxes.. and tells you how to alter each nestbox to attract the birds at the beginning of the book (mainly you just drill a size hole)....
While watching birds in my backyard or building a nestbox, I have consulted this book over and over.. It's a great book, and I have no idea why the other reviewer gave it such a bad review..

Horrid.......2004-05-17

This book was terrible. I couldn't believe how bad it was. It was very out of date and made no sense. The directions are very hard to follow and it doesn't give nearly enough details. This didn't work for me at all. My birdhouses kept falling apart!!! I would highly suggest another book to replace this one, or better yet, you can have mine because I won't be using it!

Average customer rating:

Building a Backyard Bird Habitat
Scott Shalaway
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

The National Wildlife Federation's Guide to Gardening for Wildlife: How to Create a Beautiful Backyard Habitat for Birds, Butterflies and Other Wild

ASIN: 0811726983

Book Description

8-page section of 13 color photos, 6 x 9
* Bird feeding, gardening, nest boxes, and winter shelter
* How to attract birds all year long

Birding expert Scott Shalaway offers practical and easy-to-follow information on how to create a backyard habitat that will attract a variety of birds throughout the year: cardinals, orioles, chickadees, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, bluebirds, goldfinches, and more.

Included are details on setting up feeders that work and stocking them with food birds want to eat; selecting flowers, trees, and shrubs to attract a variety of species; building and maintaining safe and user-friendly nest boxes; and creating winter shelters and seasonal feeding stations; as well as advice on planting "ghost trees," discouraging predators and pests, keeping a journal, and identifying birds by sound.

Scott Shalaway is the author of a syndicated newspaper column for nature lovers and the host of the radio show "Nature Talk." He lives in Cameron, West Virginia.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books