Book Description
A Metropolitan Museum of Art Publication Now available in paperback, this splendid book is dedicated to the art of the middle Byzantine period (843-1261), demonstrating its wide influence through a celebration of its most beautiful and meaningful works of art.
The magnificent religious and secular objects created in Byzantium had a profound impact on neighboring Christian and Islamic states and on the Latin West. In this volume more than 50 contributing scholars explore not only the works of Byzantium proper but also those from beyond its borders, providing new insights into the cultures of Eastern Europe.
The essays are accompanied by stunning full-color reproductions of more than 400 objects as well as photographs of architectural sites and comparative illustrations.
667 illustrations, 542 in full color, map, 9 x 12"
HELEN C. EVANS is associate curator of Early Christian and Byzantine Art in the Department of Medieval Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
WILLIAM D. WIXOM is former Michel David-Weill Chairman of the Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Metropolitan Museum.
Customer Reviews:
A great book!.......2000-05-25
One of the greatest sources of information on Byzantium!
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Electric Image: Examining Basic TV Technology (Video Bookshelf)
Michael A. Krupnick
Manufacturer: Knowledge Industry Publications Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0867292822 |
Amazon.com
Dave Barry, that indefatigable yukmeister, writes terrific humor columns (never mind that they all begin to sound the same if you read him regularly). He's the funniest friend you never had. If you read his column--better yet, if you don't read his column--get your hands on a copy of The Book of Bad Songs.
Barry's style is so effortless that you can't resist quoting him. This bit is from his mock-hortatory introduction: "If you keep reading, you're going to have all kinds of bad songs waking up and creeping around inside your brain, refusing to die, just like the corpses in the movie The Night of the Living Dead ..."
Book Description
When funnyman Dave Barry asked readers about their least favorite tunes, he thought he was penning just another installment of his weekly syndicated humor column. But the witty writer was flabbergasted by the response when over 10,000 readers voted. "I have never written a column that got a bigger response than the one announcing the Bad Song Survey," Barry wrote.Based on the results of the survey, Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs is a compilation of some of the worst songs ever written. Dave Barry fans will relish his quirky take. Music buffs, too will appreciate this humorous stroll through the world's worst lyrics. The only thing wrong with this book is that readers will find themselves unable to stop mentally singing the greatest hits of Gary Puckett.
Customer Reviews:
MANDATORY READING.......2007-08-30
If you're one of the lucky ones who actually remember what Rock and Roll WAS before Elvis died and immediately thereafter, disco and punk interbred & killed it - GET THIS BOOK!!! Bro Dave has a tendency to hit the nail right on the head, and I especially enjoy his "interpretetion" of the second line in the Beach Boys' song, "Help Me Rhonda" - they (I THINK) yammer, "I've been out doin' in my head." And Dave heard "There's been owls pukin' in my bed." Sorta improves things, doesn't it? And as an ex-playing-4-nights-a-week-musician myself, I really, REALLY appreciate his list of songs that "cover bands hate to cover," because he mentions "A1 & A2 on the Jukebox-in-hell," "Stairway To Heaven" & "Free Bird."
Can't Stop the (Awful) Music.......2007-08-18
Before reading this book, one memorable experience with this phenomenon was watching a television show called "Rock Star Supernova" in which one of the contestants sang a song called "Zombie," which I hate. Of course, nothing but this song kept me company for weeks. My mind just would not let the song go. In his hilarious book, Dave Barry tackles just those type of songs that drive you crazy, but you can't get out of your head.
This book is so funny that I kept laughing out loud (this hasn't happened since I read "A Walk in the Woods," another side-splitter by Bill Bryson). Barry notes in his book that he once wrote a column on songs that drove him crazy, and the result was a deluge of reader mail. People loved to share their misery and the songs that just wouldn't go away. In this deliciously small book, Barry cites lyrics of many songs that will have you groaning...and then find yourself singing or just thinking about them endlessly.
This small book is the perfect present (just how I received it...thanks, you know who you are!) or just a great treat for yourself. Pass it along to a friend, so you can share in the misery of bad songs you can't stop singing.
warning: earworm alert.......2007-06-22
An earworm is the name some give to those songs that insist on playing in your head over and over, despite your best attempts to forget them. Here Barry gives the reader ample warning that if you read his book, you will soon have "Muskrat Love," and "The Pina Colada Song" on repeat in your brain. But if you are a Barry fan, you will probably go ahead and read the book anyway. The chapters are culled from his columns on bad songs, in which he asked readers to send in their nominations for the worst lyrics ever written.
The book is divided into chapters like "Weenie Songs," "Songs Women Really Hate," "Teen Death Songs," and "Songs People Get Wrong." All the usual suspects are here from "I Am, I Said," by Neil Diamond to "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, (I Got Love in my Tummy) by the Ohio Express. (By now, you've probably acquired at least one earworm. Anyway the book is hilarious, and you may be relieved to discover that you aren't the only one who mishears lyrics.
This is a hilarious quick read (less than 100 pages). My only quibble is that more of the songs aren't from the eighties and nineties. There are plenty of candidates there. Oh well.
Barry at his best..........2007-02-17
and when is he ever not? Bought this book as a gift, read it myself first (of course) and plan to buy more of the same for other friends!
A funny, light read.......2007-01-19
It's basically a collection of responses and commentary he collected while doing a `bad song' survey in 1992. It reads like a very long humor column, in typical Dave Barry style. Full of groan-inducing puns and one-liners that made me laugh out loud. I'm a little young to appreciate all of the songs mentioned (I only knew about ¾ of them) but even when I didn't know the songs, some of the commentary was brilliant (for example: "...who sounds as though he's having his prostate examined by Captain Hook.").
Be warned: many people have taken extreme exception to the fact that he's named their favorite song in this book. There were some songs mentioned (I won't say which ones) that I have to admit to liking. But it's all in fun, and if you can't laugh at something as trivial as really, really bad lyrics, what can you laugh at? (Don't say it... don't say - muskrat love!)
Also recommended by Dave Barry, though they are not humor column books, but rather regular novels are: Big Trouble and Tricky Business. The style reminds me a bit of Carl Hiaasen. Weird and very entertaining.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but slim.......2007-05-11
This film guide about Black Narcissus is very interesting but not as complete as I would have wanted. One should not read it before watching the movie or reading the novel the film is based on. The guide does, sometimes, compare the two works but much of the time focuses on the movie. But there are many things I wanted to know about the film - how they selected the cast, information about decisions made, about the differences between the book and the movie. The sources in the back of the book does allow me to see other books I can get but as a film guide I wanted more information about the film. How people reacted to the film and how the movie has effected future film making is nice but I wanted to know more about how the film was crafted.
For example, why the red dress? That wasn't in the book. Why Jean Simmons as Kanchi? Why does the Palace have no windows when in the book it does? What changes happened because the film was made after the war when the book was created before the war? The guide barely really touches many of the subjects or issues I wanted to know about.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Black Narcissus.......2007-01-24
Really great thorough book on the background, making, and themes of the Powell/Pressburger classic. Fun facts, interviews and pics. Really nicely done and not pretentious. You'll get more out of the film which is really a high compliment to this type of book.
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Two CD set for use with The World of Music
David Willoughby
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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The World of Music
ASIN: 0072491531 |
Customer Reviews:
Well Done.......2006-03-19
This is an extremely well-written campaign, filled with tons of optional encounters. I was very impressed with the number of options many parts of this campaign had, taking the pressure off of the person running the setting. Highly recommended for a Dragonlance gamemaster without a lot of spare time to come up with homebrewed ideas.
Not a problem.......2006-02-24
Did not have a single problem with this item. Came well packed and wrapped. No complaints.
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Bfi Film and Television Handbook 1996 (B F I Film Handbook)
Manufacturer: British Film Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0851705529 |
Book Description
One rainy day in Brooklyn, Jennings Michael Burch's mother, too sick to care for him, left him at an orphanage, saying only, "I'll be right back." She never returned. Shuttled through a series of bleak foster homes and institutions, he never remained in any of them long enough to make a friend. Instead, Jennings clung to a tattered stuffed animal, his sole source of warmth in a frightening world. This is the poignant story of his lost childhood. But it is also the triumphant tale of a little boy who finally gained the courage to reach out for love-and found it waiting for him.
Customer Reviews:
Half-truths?.......2007-09-22
I liked the book, but I have internal warning lights going off as to the complete veracity of the story.
While I don't doubt that many of the abusive and neglectful things that happened to Burch did, in fact, happen to him, I can't help but have this feeling that there is some embellishment going on when it comes to some of the abuse. Sometimes the stories of cruelty seem so far-fetched, that they border on implausible (given all the characters involved in any one incident). There are also stories of being rescued from abuse that seem a little fishy.
Even more implausible however, is the philosophical wisdom of some of the children involved...like Burch's sickly brother, Jerome, or his Institution friend, Mark. These pre-teens seem to be able to impart wisdom and knowledge an a scale that most adults have a hard time embracing, even after a lifetime of existence, let alone when they were children.
I'd be willing to bet that the Author had to embellish a little in order to create some of the dialog (dialog dominates much of this book). He would have to! Who amongst us at middle-age can recall, IN DETAIL, lengthy conversations that they had when they were eight years old? But what concerns me more than needing to embellish the dialog, is this feeling I had that there are times when "fact" goes more in to the "fantasy" realm, for the sake of dramatic license. It often seems like certain scenarios have all the timing and drama of a Hollywood screenplay, as opposed to "ringing true to life".
I don't doubt that what Mr. Burch experienced as a child was indeed traumatizing and terrifying. And for that alone, it's a worthwhile read. I just have my doubts as to how much is "autobiographical" and how much is "novel" writing. How can much of what was supposedly said between Mark , Jerome and Jennings be proven anyway? Mark dies in his youth, and Jerome not very long after him (relatively speaking).
This is only an impression I'm making about this book however, as I have no proof one way or the other that there is embellishment going on. I'm just stating a gut-feeling I personally have which is born solely out of life-experience, and that's all.
But if there was embellishment for dramatic effect, I would have preferred that the Author was honest about it. And if there was none, my sincerest apologies for doubting him.
You read it and you decide. :-)
Surviving in life........2007-07-12
This story of a little boy's surviving hardships is so sad; yet he keeps going by letting go of hatered for those who hurt him, and looking forward to a better future.
Great book.......2007-06-09
This is my favorite book. I have read this book over the years no less than eight times......that is why I had to get a new one :-)
I highly recommend this book especially if you are like me and only like to read non-fiction.
Do NOT Bother!!!!.......2007-03-30
This book is horrible. The story is intresting, but it becomes lost benath a style that is both immature and drab. It is clearly written by someone without any training in creative writing. I do not understand what the prevous reviewer saw in this book.
Loved this book.......2007-02-23
I read this book many years ago when I was in 6th grade, actually my teacher read it to us. she found out that Jennings Michael Burch went to different schools around the country to talk about his life. he came to my school the following year. a few years laer when I was in 9th grade he came back, a few years before that I had written him a letter about how much I loved his book. when he came back the 2nd time he stayed at my house. we were his host family. I will never forget that. I have my autographed book with me. IF YOU HAVE NEVER READ THIS BOOK, READ IT. It will make you cry, so have a box of kleenex next to you.
Amanda from Kansas
Book Description
A rising star of the Democratic Party tells the fascinating story of the ways his multicultural heritage and political education have shaped his dreams for America and given him vital lessons in the art of successful negotiating.
Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, may be the most charismatic figure in the Democratic Party today and one of its best natural politicians whose name isn't Bill Clinton. He is the man Colin Powell has called for advice, and the man George Stephanopoulos once called the Red Adair of diplomacy in homage to his ability to put out international fires. He has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize and is counted as one of our most knowledgeable politicians on Iraq and Saddam Hussein; on Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda; on North Korea; on energy policy; on Latin American affairs; on domestic politics; and on Hispanic America.
Richardson's background as the son of an American businessman father and a Mexican mother has offered him an unusual starting point from which to seek a life in public service, but one of his most interesting roles has been that of global troubleshooter. What he has to say about how to negotiate to get what you want shows his true colors: He can be blunt, but charming; tough, but respectful; realistic, but hopeful. Through his work as a hostage negotiator sitting across the table from the likes of Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, and many others-as well as his toil on Capitol Hill, in the United Nations, and New Mexico's state government-he has learned the vital importance of preparation: know as much as possible about your adversary; test your partner's truthfulness; know how much you can concede; never lie and always be direct.
Between Worlds is the surprising story of one of our most seasoned and captivating national figures.
Customer Reviews:
Personalizing of History.......2007-09-08
The first part of this book was initially disappointing. The constant "I did this..." or I travelled to ..." sounded like so much puffery - what one might expect in a book by a Presidential candidate. The more I read, however, the more I realized that the "I" was essential to the entire focus of the book. The book brings history alive from the actual events and conversations in order to show that individuals can help make history or at least nudge it in a desirable direction. Historical events can not be viewed in a vaccum. They are most meaningfully understood in the context of the minor details of the events themselves. One that jumps out is Richardson's meeting with Saddam Hussein (regarding the release of two individuals who strayed into Iraq from Kuwait)when Richardson casually crossed his legs and inadvertently showed the soles of his shoes to Saddam. Saddam jumped up and left the room. It turns out that showing the soles of ones shoes to someone in that culture is a real sign of disrespect. The best part of the book is "Richardson's Rules" which he sets forth in anecdotal context throughout the book (with the list summarized at the end). The "Rules" are a great guide for dealing with not only high level political or diplomatic negotiations but also with everyday personal and business relationships. All in all a very enjoyable read for someone who overwhelmingly reads fiction - not non-fiction - and certainly not political books.
What a man! .......2007-09-03
How very fortunate this country is at this time in our history to have someone of this magnitude and calibur seeking the Presidency. His experience and different way of thinking allow hope for a better tomorrow for the US and the world. Good luck to you, Sir. Good luck to us all that you lead us all into a brighter and more peaceful tomorrow.
What Makes Bill Tick.......2007-08-12
Bill Richardson is a rather unimpressive candidate. However, candidates aren't elected - Presidents are. Having said that I can say that I believe Bill Richardson is ready for the Presidency. The question becomes is America ready for Bill Richardson?
The book is about as interesting as Bill Richardson's performances in debate. Clearly, this is a book about Bill's life, by Bill himself. Many of his positions are explained, but it is not comprehensive, and not meant to be. Reading this book will give the impression of what makes Bill tick, so I give credit for writing a successful book. There is no shorting the reader of 360 pages of substance. Personally, I too would like to see more from Richardson, and in fact, this is already happening.
Campaigns for officials that are based on results and performances while in office must have someone touting that record, and this is what Richardson does without much modesty. Between World's describes the position Richardson inherited from birth and the position Richardson has dealt with throughout life. The book moves from his childhood in Mexico to his life in school in New England. Richardson was the one in the middle that learned to relate to everyone. His entry into public service and political office was destiny. When you combine these with love for individuals and an unapologetic stance you have a man with superior credentials as a diplomat.
A portion of the book that could be developed further is "Richardson Rules". Richardson doesn't discuss development and application of his rule set, but presents these as simply his personal rules - I don't know whether as a human being, a public official, a diplomat, or other.
Richardson comes across as result-oriented, fun-loving, but serious. Inspiration here comes from hard work and having done a job well - unfortunately, not great oratories and smooth gestures. Richardson could partially compensate with combinations of brutal honesty and jest. He must continue to rouse voter curiosity with more manufactured "celebrity-in-jest" performances such as the one created for the New Mexico gubanatorial election. It wouldn't be a bad move if Richardson says in debate, frankly, I suck at this. I want to be telling you what I've already achieved as President - not what I would like to achieve.
A Career Politician: The Good & The Bad.......2007-07-11
I had been hearing good things about Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson, so I decided to pick up his autobiography. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of autobiographies or biographies for that matter. Especially, not ones with the sole intent of extolling the author's virtues. So that's why it gets a B-. And I'm just not a huge fan of the writing style that biographies employ. It just gets a little boring and tedious at times. But to be fair, the book gave me a better picture of Bill Richardson than I had before. About half-way through the book, I was seriously thinking about giving him some consideration with my vote. Although I know he'll never get past the big 3 of Edwards, Obama, and Clinton. He grew up in Mexico (born in US) where his mom is Mexican and his father American. He was a senator for the state of New Mexico, the ambassador to the UN that followed Albright, Secretary of Energy for Clinton's second term, and current 2nd term governor for the state of New Mexico. Needless to say, that makes him extremely qualified. And hands down the most qualified of all current presidential candidates. To his credit, he tells it like it is. And for a politician, it doesn't feel like he is full of BS. He has a record for giving his opinion even when it's controversial. And has offended both parties at times, despite being a staunch Democrat. But he's honest. Over and over again he gives examples where he spoke his mind and how it either paid off or got him in trouble. So that I respect. But ultimately, I feel like he's a politician. And a bit of an opportunist. I do believe he has a vision for this country that centers around a better energy policy. Which I totally jive with. Ultimately though, I just feel like he's a politician at heart. And I don't really want a politician in power. I want someone who is not definded as a politician. And I'm well aware of the rarity of that.
Bill Richardson, the book, the lite version.......2007-05-22
I have been interested in Bill Richardson as a potential presidential candidate for some time so I wanted to read his story to get some more information on what he might bring to the Democratic race. So should you read this book to learn about Richardson? Sure but you may be left wanting to know more as I did after finishing it.
This book, true to its subtitle "The Making of an American Life", chronicles Richardson's life, his childhood in Mexico, his high school and college years in the US and the major turning points in his life. The book is very good at this and more interesting than I thought but it does not have much detail of proposals to solve many of the national problems we are facing today. There was a list of highlighted important sayings called "Richardson's List". This I thought might be a list of what he thought would help steer the country to a better position in diplomacy, health care, environment, and the economy but was a synopsis of what he had learned in his career on how to be a successful politician, diplomat and negotiator. Hopefully if his campaign goes well we will have the opportunity to hear more from this very accomplished statesman.
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville may be the most influential political thinker in American history. He also led an unusually active and ambitious career in French politics. In this magisterial book, one of America's most important contemporary theorists draws on decades of research and thought to present the first work that fully connects Tocqueville's political and theoretical lives. In doing so, Sheldon Wolin presents sweeping new interpretations of Tocqueville's major works and of his place in intellectual history. As he traces the origins and impact of Tocqueville's ideas, Wolin also offers a profound commentary on the general trajectory of Western political life over the past two hundred years.
Wolin proceeds by examining Tocqueville's key writings in light of his experiences in the troubled world of French politics. He portrays Democracy in America, for example, as a theory of discovery that emerged from Tocqueville's contrasting experiences of America and of France's constitutional monarchy. He shows us how Tocqueville used Recollections to reexamine his political commitments in light of the revolutions of 1848 and the threat of socialism. He portrays The Old Regime and the French Revolution as a work of theoretical history designed to throw light on the Bonapartist despotism he saw around him. Throughout, Wolin highlights the tensions between Tocqueville's ideas and his activities as a politician, arguing that--despite his limited political success--Tocqueville was ''perhaps the last influential theorist who can be said to have truly cared about political life.''
In the course of the book, Wolin also shows that Tocqueville struggled with many of the forces that constrain politics today, including the relentless advance of capitalism, of science and technology, and of state bureaucracy. He concludes that Tocqueville's insights and anxieties about the impotence of politics in a ''postaristocratic'' era speak directly to the challenges of our own ''postdemocratic'' age. A monumental new study of Tocqueville, this is also a rich and provocative work about the past, the present, and the future of democratic life in America and abroad.
Books:
- The Illustrator in America, 1880-1980: A Century of Illustration
- The Image and the Eye: Further Studies in the Psychology of Pictorial ...
- The Last Picture Show: Artists Using Photography 1960-1982
- The Life and Wisdom of Gwen Frostic
- The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons
- The Open Studio: Essays on Art and Aesthetics
- The Renaissance Painters Coloring Book
- Tiffany Flora & Fauna
- Toward a Geography of Art
- Towards a Philosophy of Photography
Books Index
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