Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art: Figures, Bugs, Beasts, and Flowers

Book Description

Almost every early culture once had a system of symbols that was eventually replaced with a spoken and then written language. In Chinese culture, the evolution of symbols and their meanings took a slightly different and unique path. Rather than the visual symbols being replaced by the written language, in China, the symbols themselves evolved into the written language. In SYMBOLS AND REBUSES IN CHINESE ART, author Fang Jing Pei catalogs the hundreds of symbols in Chinese artistry, and describes each of their meanings. (A rebus is a pictorial representation of a word or syllable.) He explains, for instance, why a depiction of a bat can mean happiness, and why some beautiful images, such as sparrows and pears, are rarely seen. Using myths, folklore, history, and religion to explore the significance of each symbol, Fang presents a comprehensive understanding of the important role symbolism has played, and continues to play, in Chinese culture.

Book Description

Those that condemn Jis as being immoral miss the point—he's amoral. His comics confront all forms of morality: that of the liberals and the conservatives; leftists and rightists; ethical people and those of questionable conscience. It is no mistake that Jis's favorite metaphor is that of a shipwrecked person, in a microcosmic world made up of only a lump of land and a single palm tree, questioning human nature. The island that Jis inhabits is one of a desk and a pen, from which his astute and intelligent sense of humor flows.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice!.......2007-02-25

A lot of great pictures. Fine printing. Special kind of paper even if you touched the pages, the fingerprints will forever be stamped on those pages, probably ruining them. I am impressed with some of the selections but not so for others. The treatment given to Marlon Brando and his movies are well-received and respected. I wonder why, no disrespect to Karl Madden, Brando wasn't given a profile. Way too many Marilyn Monroe films in this book, to count them is 4. Way too many. I don't agree with the selection of "The Misfits". Also, I don't agree with "The African Queen" ("Blood Alley" was better), "From Here to Eternity" (I consider it outdated but important nonetheless), "The Seven Samurai" (exceedingly too long and overshot of simple stuff), "Rebel Without a Cause" (Overacting by James Dean, a Brando wanna-be), "The Night of the Hunter" (poor film and even worse, poor acting by Robert Mitchum), and "Touch of Evil" (outdated). Meanwhile, I am surprised by the selections of "The Thing of From Another World", "Invasions of the Body Snatchers", and "Spartacus", and I applaud them. One thing I don't understand about the title as it says "Movies of the 50s" is why there isn't 1950 but 1960 included? Obvious omissions are as follows: "Sunset Boulevard", "Shane", "Richard III", "Gun Crazy", "Dial M for Murder", and "The Curse of Frankenstein."

Movies of the 50s.......2005-08-09

This continues in a great series of books on cinema that Taschen has put out. The films are a well selected lot representing the 1950s with good write-ups and an excellent selection of photos accompanying each film chosen. I can't wait for them to come out with editions on films of the 1940s, 1930s and the Silent period (covering the years 1900-1929).

My only complaint is why the year 1950 has been missed out from the decade of the 1950s while 1960 is included instead!

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Movies of the 50s
Jurgen Muller
Manufacturer: Barnes & Noble
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 076078082X

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Movies of the 50s
Jurgen Muller
Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Entertainment | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 3822832456

Wicked scientists and cursed genes: werewolf origin stories in 50s and 60s cinema.: An article from: Journal of Evolutionary Psychology

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Wicked scientists and cursed genes: werewolf origin stories in 50s and 60s cinema.: An article from: Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Robert J. Craig
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, published by Thomson Gale on April 1, 2006. The length of the article is 4408 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wicked scientists and cursed genes: werewolf origin stories in 50s and 60s cinema.
Author: Robert J. Craig
Publication: Journal of Evolutionary Psychology (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 28 Issue: 1-2 Page: 13(8)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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One Hundred Songs of England For Low Voice
Granville (editor) Bantock
Manufacturer: Oliver Ditson Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RI8KAC

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One Hundred Songs of England (Musician's Library)
Granville Bantock
Manufacturer: Library Reprints
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0722263392

Amazon.com

Why are children so active? Because they want to learn! And here are 365 simple but stimulating activities for parents, grandparents and child care providers that can turn a child's need for action into chances for learning, by themselves, or with others in the family. Sometimes it's hard for adults to come up with the right activities: here is your cookbook! Recommended.

Customer Reviews:

I Have Used This Book For YEARS!.......2006-03-24

This book has been around FOREVER and continues to be updated. Over the years, I have probably given away at LEAST 20 copies of this book to parents of toddlers. It is the BEST book out there for creative, imaginative fun for kids that can only help them to be smart, smart adults.

I couldn't believe the reviews that stated that this was for "unimaginative"adults! I am as creative as they come and I was amazed at some of the neat, terrific and educational ideas that the authors came up with. That said, there are a few activities that I thought were a little "out there" so I skipped those activities, but everyone is different. Trust me, this book leads the way in creative play!

Inappropriate choice of materials for a book aimed at age two+.......2005-08-18

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of four not be given nuts, popcorn, or raisins, due to the risk of choking. Therefore, it seems rather inappropriate to include these ingredients in recipes and craft activities in a book aimed at children "age two years and up." Here are just a few examples of activities from this book that use such ingredients:

- Grandma's Granola (Activity 171) contains both nuts and raisins
- Popcorn Packaging (Activity 74) contains popcorn
- Cereal Balls (Activity 51) contain raisins.

Creative Play .......2005-07-06

This book was not quite what I expected. There are some good ideas and some truly idiotic ones as well. I'm not sure if the good outweighs the bad.

For the Extremely Dull and Uncreative Parents Out There.......2005-06-12

One of the ideas for creative play the authors offer is to find a hill and roll down it. Or if that doesn't knock your socks off find a trail of ants and watch them marching by! If your child needs you and a book to come up with these play ideas seek professional help... now!

Your children will love the activities in this book.......2001-10-26

There are 13 different types of activities. They are Art, Construction, Craft, Dance, Education, Environment, Foods and Cooking, Games, Horticulture, Make-Believe, Music and Nature. It gives you tips for your child's safety and enjoyment. The book also lists a variety of materials and supplies you might need for that activity.

365 DAYS OF CREATIVE PLAY: FOR CHILDREN 2 YRS. AND UP (REVISED)

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365 DAYS OF CREATIVE PLAY: FOR CHILDREN 2 YRS. AND UP (REVISED)
SHEILA ELLISON AND JUDITH GRAY
Manufacturer: FORWARD MARCH PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: B000OYJ7N8

Customer Reviews:

The Hartnell Years........2007-09-30

The first chapter of this book is fascinating, and in keeping with the show itself, as the author goes from the eighties back to the beginning of the show, in several year stages.
Briefly Mentioning which Doctors era we're in and also describing the studio facilities, size of studio, what type of cameras used(colour or black and white), the changing studio policy of which scenes were shot in which order, etc.
(That changed a lot in the early seventies)
But what sells this book for me are the copious amounts of behind the scenes photos, and even better in my opinon Raymond Cusick's (The Dalek Designer) design department blueprints.(OK I admit it I'm a Doctor Who geek.)
The disappointing original design of the Dalek city and the design eventually seen on TV are also shown. Check out my customer image of Mr Cusick's idea how the Dalek mutation should look.(It wasn't made due to budget limitations). The original designer for the first Dalek story was going to be Ridley Scott but because of other work commitments he wasn't free to do it. Cusick wanted six casings made for the story but as usual the budget wouldn't strech that far so four were made. The Dalek casings ended up costing £120 each and in 1963 when the average wage in the UK was £10 a week, that made them very expensive props indeed.
The only criticism I would level at this book is, I would have liked a synopsis on more of the stories (Not all the stories are reviewed). As the level of detail is more informative then even "Doctor Who a Celebration".
For anyone who is interested in the Hartnell years, then this is the book.
Published 1986.

Superb and nostalgic.......2001-03-13

A fresh perspective on the early years of Doctor Who. Covers the origin of the TV show, the actors and creators involved. It takes us back to a time when science ficiton television held enough charm for children without worrying about the reactions of adult viewers who (at that time) only worried about how "scary" the show may be at time.

Since Dr. Who has been an institution in England, we forget how much of a risk the show was back in the day it was first conceived and how no one knew what a phenomenon it would become. This book brings that feeling back.

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Doctor Who : The Early Years
Jeremy Bentham
Manufacturer: W. H. Allen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Doctor Who | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000O6HY9K

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Doctor Who: The Early Years
Jeremy Bantham
Manufacturer: W. H. Allen & Company, Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Doctor Who | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MHOHYQ

Customer Reviews:

Saddam's Secrets.......2007-10-15

General Sada reveals how Saddam moved much of the WMD stockpile to Syria, taking advantage of a call for assistance in a flood. He used airplanes from Iraqi Airways to make fifty-six trips to turn over to Syrian Army Ordinance his stockpile for safekeeping. Sada also reveals much of what was taking place in Saddam's quest for nuclear weapons. He was an insider and had first-hand knowledge of what was really going on.

This is the Book the Leftist Establishment has Fahrenheit 451'd.......2007-09-17

I have been reading Georges Hormuz Sada's harrowing account of life in Iraq during the ruthlessly cruel regime of Saddam Hussein. He seems like an honest man worthy of our respect. And yet, I strongly suspect that "Saddam's Secrets" was only a modest success. The leftist dominated MSM and intellectual institutions pretend it doesn't even exist. Try finding anything on Google.com. The results will be virtually fruitless. The author, who was a close advisor to Saddam, has been effectively dropped into a Fahrenheit 451 memory hole. Sada is thankful that the Bush administration liberated Iraq. He also tells the world about the late dictator's weapons of mass destruction. These are truths the leftist establishment prefers to ignore. There is no doubt in my mind but that Sada's name would constantly be in the news if he told the leftists what they wanted to hear. The "elite" university crowd would pay him thousands of dollars for a two-hour lecture.

Georges Sada's book reminds me why I'm so lucky to be an American. Our citizens, after all, are not murdered for casually disagreeing with the country's leader. Sada is a very brave man. We owe it to him and ourselves to be victorious in Iraq.

Iraq from a TRUE INSIDER.......2007-07-12

Gen Georges, born & lived in Iraq all his natural-born days, a rare "Assyrian Christian", which perhaps is why Saddam trusted him and sought out his opinion, though he rarely followed it. Georges told him "2+2=4", when all the other sycophants were telling Saddam "2+2=9". How different things might have been!! A very skilled fighter pilot, Georges rose to one of the highest position in the Air Force, which gave him the opportunity to train in the US and the UK. At the time of writing, he was in the Defense Dept of the present Iraqi government. He was true to his government since he was a true patriot, but realized how horribly evil Saddam was. He says the bad dude was constantly scheming for his own ends, though his government was supposed to be "socialist" (didn't we hear that from another government which collapsed in 1990 after more than 70 years in power? As of the writing (copyright '06), Georges was quite hopeful. It would be interesting to hear this thinking at this juncturre!!

The Devil in Disguise.......2007-03-10

The author of "Saddam's Secrets," Georges Sada, is an Assyrian Christian born and raised in northern Iraq. He was a General in the Iraqi Air Force. Besides being the best pilot in the entire Iraqi Air Force he was also the only one who defied Saddam every time he was asked to comment, describe or advice on any crazy matters that came to Saddam's vile and morally reprehensible mind. However, others close to Saddam who tried to defy him in answering the same crazy questions wound up with their head chopped off. Georges preserved his Christian values and told Saddam the truth and nothing but the truth -----and God helped Georges Sada. Saddam was stupid, and ignorant, but exceptionally cunning. He knew he needed someone to tell him the truth regardless of how deplorable it was for him to accept it.

*Excerpt: "Ever since Saddam seized power in 1979--and, really, for a decade before that--we knew that truth was whatever the leader said it was. I Saddam wanted two plus two to equal nine, then everybody would say it was nine."

According to the author, Saddam was a stupid and ignorant, unknowledgeable man, however, "Saddam was cunning, crafty, clever and an expert in manipulation: "I've often said he was a genius. Like the communist leader Josef Stalin, on whom Saddam modeled himself, he was truly a genius at doing evil. He was a man without a conscience. He was ruthless and brutal, and there was nothing he wouldn't do to achieve his own ends. He killed many times and ordered the brutal murders of hundreds of thousands of [his] own people."

The author tells how Saddam managed to trick the world into believing he did not have weapons of mass destruction. He goes into detail how Saddam managed to hide all evidence of WMD's and how he managed to move all of them out of Iraq under the noses of the United Nations weapons inspectors.

The reader will find out it was a stroke of "good" fate the United States got rid of Saddam when it did. Saddam was about to unleash a barrage of attacks with WMD's against Israel which would have, more than likely, started another world war.

*Ending Excerpt: The author of "Saddam's Secrets" ends his powerful novel by stating the following: "I love my country, and I only want good things to happen in Iraq from now on. Even though I am a member of a minority in Iraq, as an Assyrian and a Christian, I have always tried to be faithful and do my duty at all times. I wanted to fulfill my commitment as an officer and a gentleman to the best of my ability. If I had tried to write or speak about the situation in Iraq during those years, it would have been propaganda. It would have been just one more boast for a regime the whole world knew was corrupt and destined to fail. And I would have never have written such a book."

One thing for sure, if everyone in Iraq were like Georges Sada, Iraq would be a peaceful and honorable country.

I strongly recommend this book to every human being. Not only should the book be read in the United States of America but everyone in the rest of the world. Doing so will help better understand the problems with Iraq and what made it so violent and how it got to where it is now.

Sadam's Secrets, the truth about WMD.......2007-03-09

Due to the political climate and motivations that we are wrestling with in America over the war in Iraq, I wanted to find something that more honestly described the conditions in Iraq during the rule of Sadam Hussein and possibly learned the truth about the WMD that existed prior to the US led wars of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. In "Sadam's Secrets" we read a detailed, and believable account of a man who lived and survived inside the world of Sadam Hussein as an airforce general with a personal first hand knowledge of the dictator's history, methods of operation and decisions that recklessly pushed his nation into war with his neighbors and eventually led to the two US invasions.

Book Description

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was a colorful and complex character, whose supremely successful naval career quickly attained legendary status. By 1803 he was Britain's paramount hero.nbsp;Already maimed with the loss of an arm and blind in one eye, he returned to war and spent a further two years at sea before dying at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In this book, leading historians provide a radical reappraisal of his life and times.

Customer Reviews:

Nine New Views of Nelson.......2005-08-23

I cannot think of another Briton who has had more written about them for as long a time as Nelson. Now we are approaching the 200 year anniversary of his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. And we are hearing again of his famous signal 'England expects every man will do his duty.' And his famous last words 'Thank God I have done my duty.'

In this new book, nine noted historians contributed articles. Each views Nelson's life and legacy in a different light. In Part 1 of the book the subjects are Seamanship, leadership, orgiginality, Friendship, Freemasonry, Fraternity, Manliness, patriotism and body politics.

Of particular interest was Kate Williams article Nelson and Women which discusses how Nelson was marketed to the female consumer of the time. This included romance novels, fantasies about how sailors whould behave, and various consumer items offered for sale. This is a view of early nineteenth century England not seen before.

Part 2 of the book goes into the Nelson legacy. This legacy didn't just happen, it was carefully constructed by the British Navy, Government and others. They did a good job, the legacy has now lasted for 200 years and shows no sign of dimenishing.

A most interesting book that discusses parts about Nelson that haven't been emphasized.

Book Description

A journalist reveals the disturbing realities of life in the Saudi kingdom. S audi Arabia: Land of oil, terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism, and a crucial American ally. As the only Western journalist to have extensively worked in the Saudi Kingdom, John R. Bradleyis uniquely able to expose the turmoil that is shaking the House of Saud to its foundations. From the heart of the secretive Islamic kingdom's urban centers to its most remote mountainous terrain, from the homes of royalty to the slums of its poorest inhabitants, he provides intimate details and reveals underlying regional, religious, and tribal rivalries. Bradley highlights tensions generated by social change, focuses on the educational system, the increasing restlessness of Saudi youth faced with limited opportunities for cultural and political expression, and the predicament of Saudi women seeking opportunities but facing constraints. What are the implications for the Sauds and the West? This book offers a startling look at the present predicament and a troubling view of the future.

Customer Reviews:

Insightful Portrayal Of The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia.......2007-06-05

Bradley is a journalist who lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for more than 2 years. This book describes what he observed, obviously from a Western perspective, while living there. Some of what he discusses has been covered in other books. For example, the strict segregation of men and women, the brutal public executions and the extreme corruption and hypocrisy of the Saudi royal family. He also mentions the poor education and professional training received by most Saudi citizens which requires the country to be dependent on foreign workers. Many of these workers are people from poor countries such as India, Pakistan and the Philippines who do the "dirty jobs" that, supposedly, Saudis don't want to do themselves. But I find this questionable since Bradley also describes the high rate of unemployment among Saudi citizens and the fact that many of them live in poverty while the Saudi royals bask in the enormous wealth generated by the oil business.

Bradley also talks about the good qualities of the typical Saudi person, such as kindness, hospitality and generosity. There are certain Western right-wingers and Christian zealots who have an anti-Muslim agenda and are clearly biased in their writings. But Bradley doesn't strike me as that sort of person. I think he is simply trying to explain his experiences in Saudi Arabia with as much honesty and truth as possible. Of course, he is seeing the country from the point of view of a non-Muslim Westerner. But that doesn't mean he is necessarily wrong in what he is saying.

However, what really takes this book to the "5 stars" level for me is that he elaborates on the regionally based political and cultural differences in the kingdom. He talks about the Hijaz area, including Jeddah, as having a long history as an international center of trade which makes it somewhat more liberal and sophisticated than the rest of the country. The southern region is called Asir and includes people who, in many ways, have more in common with the neighboring country of Yemen than with their fellow Saudis. Finally, there is the Eastern province which is largely made up of Shiite Muslims who, like the people from Hijaz and Asir, often finds themselves at odds with the Wahhabi dominated central region which includes the royal family and the Wahhabi religious establishment that controls the country politically. In other words, Saudi Arabia is a complex and diverse society with people from a variety of religious and cultural perspectives who are seeking to challenge the hold on power by the Wahhabis and the royal family. This is not the picture provided to the broader American public, who tend to recognize that the royals are corrupt but still see them as the lesser of two evils when compared to the Osama allied extremists. Obviously, the situation there is more complicated than most people think.

I actually came away feeling at least a little more optimistic about the future, or at least the potential, of the country. But, of course, Saudi Arabia still faces a tremendous amount of problems and what happens there will continue to be of vital importance to the rest of us, especially considering that the Saudis have 1/4 of the world's known supply of petroleum.

A little bias detected.......2007-06-03

This was the fourth book that I read about Saudi Arabia and although I thought the descriptives were very good in that Bradley goes into some depth that other authors may consider too trivial (i.e. Najran and Flower Men), the author clearly takes hold of the arab militancy with a one track mind. This was the first post-911 book I read about the Kingdom and I was curious to find out what has changed, and all I found was a loud-echo of anti-Wahhabism and the outcry of abused Asian workers. I understand very well that K.S.A. has many issues in that area, but I also know many families who treat their workers well. I'm always leary of books that incite anger in me as I read, and this certainly made me angry and defensive toward the Kingdom when I have already met so many wonderful Saudis who give me an entirely different perspective. A fuel on the American bias fire, but worth reading if but for the descriptives of Shiite history in the Kingdom.

Try Again.......2007-05-23

really needs to try again here I was in the kingdom the same time as this man and have read his account, but cannot agree, one thing to put straight here is that the mention of a Keith Birmingham as an engineer is incorrect he was a welder for Saudi Arabian Airlines at the engine overhaul centre in Jeddah. Perhaps had John really spent time out and about in the rest of Saudi and met the those who you can say are not the city folk could probably had a very good book but this account is far from complete

Tipical Orientalist.......2007-05-17

I GREW UP IN A MIDDLE CLASS SAUDI FAMILY AND READ THE WHOLE BOOK.
John R. Bradley goes to Saudi Arabia for 2 ½ years, befriends upper class kids and some liberal journalists then thinks he figured out the whole country. These are some things you should know before you read the book:
-When a teenage boy has a satellite in his room he is rich even in Saudi Arabia. Same thing goes for students who hire a Briton to teach them English and for kids with fluent English.
-Average Saudis will not talk to foreigners especially not westerners.
-The book was written in June 2005 and Saudi Arabia is rapidly changing (for better or worse)
-This was before the new king came to power.
-The people he speaks of are not representative sample of the Saudi society(mostly pro-American liberal)
-Any other orientalist could not have done a better job of an inside view of Saudi Arabia through a westerner's eyes.

Insightful look at an understudied country.......2007-04-05

This is an informative book for those wishing to gain a better understanding of the political and social situation in contemporary Saudi Arabia. The author was apparently one of the few Western journalists in the country in the early 2000s and he was able to obtain a visa that allowed him to travel around the country and speak with people without facing many of the restrictions that apply to most Westerners in the country. The author discusses a number of subjects. I thought that the two most interesting chapters were the ones dealing with Saudi youth and gender relations, respectively. He also writes about the rise of crime, attacks against Western expatriates, and, of course, the royal family, among other subjects. The author traveled outside of Riyadh, the capital, to many different regions. One of the main themes of the book is that the tensions between various regions within the country, many of which are inhabited by distinct tribal and ethnic groups, pose perhaps the greatest threat to the country's unity. Perhaps the one thing that I found frustrating was that, at times, it seemed like the text was devoid of Saudi voices. While the author obviously made a great many friends and professional contacts in the country, I kind of wish that he would have presented more of their viewpoints. He often seems too eager to convey his own impressions and opinions of Saudi Arabia rather than let the country's citizens speak for themselves. Luckily, this isn't as problematic as it could have been, because his opinions are generally very insightful and well-argued. Overall, as someone with very little knowledge of Saudi Arabia (and the Middle East in general), I found this book to be a highly informative analysis of some of the major tensions and problems facing this country that has been so often discussed and misunderstood in the Western media.

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