The Labouring Poor in India: Patterns of Exploitation, Subordination, and Exclusion

Book Description

This book is a collection of essays which explores two dominant themes bound together by Jan Breman's deep concern for the socially and economically disadvantaged sections of Indian society.

Book Description

More than fifty years ago, Joseph Schumpeter stated that processes intrinsic to a capitalist society produce a "creative destruction," whereby innovations destroy obsolete technologies, only to be assaulted in turn by newer and more efficient rivals. This book asks whether the current chaotic state of the telecommunications and related Internet industries is evidence of creative destruction, or simply a result of firms, governments, and others wasting valuable resources with limited benefits to society as a whole. In telecommunications, for example, wireless, IP, and cable-based technologies are all fighting for a share of the market currently dominated by older, circuit-switched, copper-terminated networks. This process is accompanied by mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, and investment and divestment in worldwide markets.

The selections discuss the primary challenge facing firms, governments, and other players: how to exploit the opportunities created by such destructive dynamics. They highlight the importance of national regulations promoting competition and nonmonopolistic market structures, as well as the role of new technologies such as the Internet in driving down the price and speeding the diffusion of innovative products and services in telecommunications, media, electronic retailing, and other "new economy" industries.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting reading and analytic edge.......2001-11-08

It is a thorough analysis of the technological advances of our era and the depth of the internet industry. I was particularly interested in the implications for Latin America and the technological transfer from liberalization. It is a useful book for practictioners and for more academic minds.

schumpeter revisited.......2001-07-19

Creative Destruction presents a fascinating revival of an old concept in the context of recent technological developments and innovation. It offers a brilliant account of how information technologies accelerate the process of creative destruction today and helps understand how information society articulates with in a wider framework of economic history. Those interested in Latin America will appreciate, in particluar, the recent developments in the telecommunications industry in the region.

A thoughtful and highly useful book.......2001-07-10

This is an outstanding collection of articles. These papers combine scholarly depth with usefulness for practitioners. They will help you understand where we've been and forecast where we are going with the Internet. I teach courses on Internet Business Strategy and will use this collection next year. My favorites are Baumol's "Innovation and Creative Destruction; McKnight's "Internet Business Models: Creative Destruction as Usual" and Lehr's "A New Theory of the Internet Firm." They provide a solid conceptual basis for understanding the implications of the Internet economy. One thing truly unique about this book is the thoughtful and detailed discussions of the implications of the Internet on international business. There are six papers that focus on these issues. I have not seen this anywhere else. In a world where people publish books peddling derivative nostrums about the network economy, it's a pleasure to finally find one that deals with these issues in a serious, thoughtful and, most of all, useful way.

A Lego Box of Valuable Ideas.......2001-05-08

Rather than focusing on a single angle and building a long argument in its favor, this compendium's treatment of diverse dimensions of creative destruction lets the reader paint his or her own picture of the net effects of Schumpeter's famous concept. The book's 11 articles touch on topics as diverse as the future of telecommunications firms in a Net-centric world, the impact of regulatory reform on the Internet in Europe, the institutional barriers to Internet-driven creative destruction in Japan, and the impact of open-source software business models.

Creative Destruction is a Lego-box of interesting ideas that managers and academics can recombine into constructs valuable to their work, teaching, or research. I found it very rich reading.

A Multi-Dimensional Examination of a Basic Concept.......2001-04-13

There are three recent publications with the same title (Creative Destruction) whose authors correlate Joseph Schumpeter's concept of "creative destruction" with the contemporary business world. Foster and Kaplan explain "why companies that are built to last underperform the market -- and how to successfully transform them" whereas in their work, Nolan and Croson offer "a six-stage process for transforming the organization." In the third volume co-edited by McKnight, Vaaler, and Katz, various authors and co-authors of 13 anthologized essays examine various "business survival strategies for the global Internet economy." I highly recommend all three volumes as well as two of Schumpeter's works: Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, and, Essays: On Entrepreneurs, Innovations, Business Cycles, and the Evolution of Capitalism.

This book grew out of a symposium held at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the spring of 1999. The topic was "Creative Destruction -- or Just Destruction?" Those who presented papers were asked to address "the key technological, regulatory, organizational, and competitive dynamics compelling change in the way firms and stakeholders do business in an increasingly global and Internet-centric society." At the symposium there were (and in this volume there are) four points which are consistent with the theme of "creative destruction":

The Destruction of Traditional Industry Structures

The Destruction of Traditional Regulatory Structures

The Destruction of Traditional Competitive Positioning Strategies

The Destruction of Traditional Technological Assumptions

It is important to keep in mind that this is not a manual. Although there are numerous suggestions, checklists, points of emphasis, graphic illustrations, and examples offered, the volume's primary purpose is to stimulate continued discussion and debate on the major challenges now facing firms, governments, and other players -- while suggesting "how to exploit the new opportunities created by creative dynamics."

The material is organized within five Parts: Introduction, Theory and Practice of Creative Destruction, The Global Context for Creative Destruction, Business Destruction Strategies in the Global Internet Economy, and Creative Business Survival Strategies. For the reader's convenience, the editors offer brief comments about each subject and about each of those who address it. After reading the excellent Introduction, you may decide not to read the everything that follows from beginning to end. In that event, select what is directly relevant to your and your organization's most immediate and urgent needs and interests. (In all probability, some of those needs and interests will soon change.) The editors provide three supplementary sections (Contributors, Notes, and References) which assist and encourage further study as well as "continued discussion and debate."

I am curious to know what Schumpeter would say about the material in this book if he were discussing it as I am now. My guess (only a guess) is that he would observe that his basic concept of "creative destruction" remains relevant but the process is occurring at an ever-increasing velocity and in ways and to an extent he could not have envisioned 50-60 years ago. Another guess (only a guess) is that, based on what is now happening (and not happening) in the global community, he would suggest that process of "creative destruction" in all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) has only begun. The Chinese character for the word "crisis" has two meanings: "peril" and "opportunity." For many (perhaps most) organizations, the process of creative destruction means death; for others, it offers the opportunity for at least survival and perhaps regeneration. The authors represented in this superb volume help us to understand the differences between the two groups....also, the probable consequences of those differences.

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Strategies and Tactics for Management of Fertilized Hatchery Ponds
Richard O. Anderson
Manufacturer: Food Products Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1560220481

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Strategies and Tactics for Management of Fertilized Hatchery Ponds.
Richard O. Anderson
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M3O93Y

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Strategies and Tactics for Management of Fertilized Hatchery Ponds
Richard O. Anderson
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU7FC4

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Strategies and Tactics for Management of Fertilized Hatchery Ponds.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IBS1CK

Book Description

A key way that behavioral ecologists develop general theories of animal behavior is by studying one species or a closely related group of species--''model systems''--over a long period. This book brings together some of the field's most respected researchers to describe why they chose their systems, how they integrate theoretical, conceptual, and empirical work, lessons for the practice of the discipline, and potential avenues of future research. Their model systems encompass a wide range of animals and behavioral issues, from dung flies to sticklebacks, dolphins to African wild dogs, from foraging to aggression, territoriality to reproductive suppression.

Model Systems in Behavioral Ecology offers an unprecedented ''systems'' focus and revealing insights into the confluence of personal curiosity and scientific inquiry. It will be an invaluable text for behavioral ecology courses and a helpful overview--and a preview of coming developments--for advanced researchers. The twenty-five chapters are divided into four sections: insects and arachnids, amphibians and reptiles, birds, and mammals.

In addition to the editor, the contributors include Geoff A. Parker, Thomas D. Seeley, Naomi Pierce, Kern Reeve, Gerald S. Wilkinson, Bert Hölldobler and Flavio Roces, George W. Uetz, Michael J. Ryan and Gil Rosenthal, Judy Stamps, H. Carl Gerhardt, Barry Sinervo, Robert Warner, Manfred Milinski, David F. Westneat, Alan C. Kamil and Alan B. Bond, Paul Sherman, Jerram L. Brown, Anders Pape Møller, Marc Bekoff, Richard C. Connor, Joan B. Silk, Christopher Boesch, Scott Creel, A.H. Harcourt, and Tim Caro and M. J. Kelly.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable reading.......2007-01-09

I used this book for a graduate seminar class with students from diverse interests within ecology and evolution. The chapters were really well-written. The science was excellent, and I really liked the addition of a personal perspective (e.g., how the author got interested in the question, logistical issues).

Book Description

The mysterious and often unpredictable world of primates is explained by Smithsonian scientists in a Q&A format.

A comprehensive response to the many thousands of calls and letters the Smithsonian receives regarding questions related to monkeys, apes, lemurs, tamarins, and their relatives. What are primates? How closely related are humans to other primates? How strong is a gorilla? Why do primates spend so much time grooming? Why can't apes talk? These and almost 100 other questions are addressed with clear, thorough answers. 99 color photographs.

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Good Historical Read

This Oral History Tells A Real Story

AFTER JACKIE: PRIDE, PREJUDICE, AND BASEBALL'S FORGOTTEN HEROES: AN ORAL HISTORY
Cal Fussman
Manufacturer: ESPN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season

The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America

Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History

Carrying Jackie's Torch: The Players Who Integrated Baseball-and America

Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman

ASIN: 1933060182
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the breaking of baseball's color barrier, an exploration of Jackie Robinson's impact and legacy by the people whose lives were transformed by his courageWhen Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he forever changed the game ofbaseball -- and America itself. In After Jackie, author Cal Fussman traces Robinson's enormous legacy in sports, politics, and the civil rights movement through the men (and women) who came after him. With moving and intimate interviews of more than one hundred former major league players of African-American descent, as well as such luminaries as Jimmy Carter, Muhammad Ali, and Walter Cronkite, among others, After Jackie recalls the day one man altered history for so many, and the history that followed.

Customer Reviews:

Good Historical Read.......2007-05-23

Being a fan of baseball & Black history, I loved it. It has interviews with living Negro League players, their widows & or children, other celeb
rities who lived through that era and white ballplayers as well.
It is full of insight from a lot of different viewpoints.

This Oral History Tells A Real Story.......2007-04-05

This nation's leaders in fields such as politics, sports and history do a great job with race. You see, they mostly race away from the real questions and answers surrounding slavery, prejudice and the lies from the past that are taught as fact today. Race fast enough and the truth may just get left far behind.

That is what makes After Jackie: Pride, Prejudice, and Baseball's Forgotten Heroes - An Oral History, as important a book as you can read this year, or ever. It gives you a foundation to discuss with your children true American history from the voices of true heroes.

Each person chronicled by author Cal Fussman - either in recent interviews or through past public statements - lived through the racial hatred that did not cease after Jackie Robinson donned the uniform of the Brooklyn Dodgers. That is because of the race away from the hard questions and tough answers.

"The more I spoke with the men who came after Jackie, the more certain I became of one thing: The only way to unlearn is to learn," writes Fussman. "The surest way for us to move forward is to know where the old have been."

And to put one issue in perspective - Major League Baseball's "Glory Road" - it really isn't "ancient" history. The first all-minority starting lineup - blacks and Latin players - was filled out by manager Danny Murtaugh on September 1, 1971, when his Pittsburgh Pirates played the Philadelphia Phillies. For the record, the Pirates won the World Series that season.

Former Dodgers star, Lou Johnson - whose life is equally uplifting and chilling due to the prejudice of society - captures the powerful message of the book through a story of sharing:

"The other day I was at my mother-in-law's funeral and there was a kid who was wearing a jersey with No. 42 on it. He had no idea what the 42 meant. In the heart of the hood, and this kid had no idea.

"I put my arm around this kid and I showed him my world championship ring. I said, 'It was No. 42 who got me this ring.'

"And then I told him about No. 42."

It is not enough to simply remember the past. Without a true comprehension of history, a society is doomed to repeat the same mistakes - in various degrees - over and over again.

And that will unfortunately make No. 42 just another number.

Average customer rating:

Baseball Has Interesting Characters
A Change of Pace
the author's dedication shows throughout
Thinking Differently About Baseball
A "must read" for everyone; a "must have" for enthusiasts!

Baseball's Forgotten Heroes
Tony Salin
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0809226030

Book Description

"Baseball's Forgotten Heroes is a refreshing book full of great baseball stories not found elsewhere." -- David Nemee, baseball historian and author of Great Baseball Feats, Facts, and Firsts Art Pennington, a Negro League all-star in the 1940s, used to tell opposing pitchers to "throw it and duck." Bruno Haas, in his first major league game, set a still-standing record with 16 walks; he then went on to star in the minor leagues, pitching his last game at the age of 55. Bill Lange was considered Ty Cobb's equal by many people. Pennington, Haas, and Lange are three of the little-known, but fascinating men profiled in Baseball's Forgotten Heroes: One Fan's Search for the Game's Most Interesting Overlooked Players. One-armed outfielder Pete Gray granted author Tony Salin a rare interview, as did legendary minor-league sluggers Joe Bauman and Joe Hauser. Salin presents the stories of over a dozen former players, many in their own words. They share memories of playing with and against many of baseball's top stars including Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams. Salin also tells the stories of players such as Chuck Connors, television's "Rifleman," who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, and Paul Hines, a Triple Crown winner who turned to pickpocketing after his baseball career ended. Baseball's Forgotten Heroes proves that the most interesting stories aren't necessarily about the game's immortals. Tony Salin's writings have appeared in Baseball Digest, The Sacramento Bee, and other publications. He lives in San Francisco, California.

Customer Reviews:

Baseball Has Interesting Characters.......2002-03-13

Baseball is a game rich in history and stories abound about those who have played the game. Author Tony Salin has provided us with stories of players who are known to true fans such as Chuck Connors, Billy Jurges, Frenchy Bordagaray, and Larry Jansen. A number of stories of very obscure players who have interesting tales to tell as well is also in the book. I especially enjoyed the pronounciation of names in the back of the book. I had hoped to see the name Chris Van Cuyk listed, but, alas, that one will continue to mystify me. The book is a quick read and is worth your time.

A Change of Pace.......2001-03-12

Are you tired of reading the same stories about the same baseball players? Pick up this great little book for a different look at the game. Instead of rehashing old stories the author delves into the careers of some little known but colorful characters. The interviews, though somewhat rough around the edges, allow the author to give you the conversational type of history, as if you were sitting across the kitchen table from these baseball nomads. It's the kind of book you find yourself saying, "I could have written this book". But hey, the author followed through on his idea, and I look forward to seeing more of the same type material from him.

the author's dedication shows throughout.......2000-07-05

This is a book written by someone with a lot of love for the game of baseball. It will mostly benefit others with the same love: Salin has found sufficiently obscure figures that I had only heard of half of them. Where feasible, he lets them tell their own stories, thus preserving their style of speech and bringing them to life (very important as most are very elderly or since deceased).

Salin must be a persuasive fellow and is certainly a persistent one; he wangled an interview with the very reclusive Pete Gray, who played major league baseball with only one arm (true story). He has gathered a collection of amusing and interesting stories that tell a lot about the times in which his subjects played.

And as if all that weren't enough, there's a great bonus at the end: a pronunciation guide to baseball people's names. How is someone like myself, born in the early 1960s, supposed to know how to pronounce a lot of the names of the past? What a superb inclusion, and the list is both long and phonetically clear. I couldn't believe my good fortune when I got to that part, having thought that the book was over, and was so pleasantly surprised. It was like a performer coming out for a superb encore.

Well worth the money and time for enthusiasts of baseball history. I'm going to keep my eye on this author, and I hope we get more.

Thinking Differently About Baseball.......1999-10-13

This book, like Andrew Torrez's critically acclaimed _Off Base_, appears to be part of a growing trend among baseball authors to encourage their readers to think "outside the box." Salin's ideas, like Torrez's, are provocative and entertaining.

A "must read" for everyone; a "must have" for enthusiasts!.......1999-08-06

Tony Salin's collection of stories in "Baseball's Forgotten Heroes" is a reminder that baseball's charm is created by more than the superstars that the media cling to when trying to get the average fan's attention. As much as I enjoy reading about Williams or DiMaggio, Baseball's Forgotten Heroes is a fresh approach that I hope will set a standard for future volumes. Throughout history, baseball has presented many men with fascinating stories that have been otherwise overlooked. Fortunately, there is at least one author with the desire and perseverance to publish some of these unsung-heroes' stories. The style of this book would appeal to anyone regardless of his or her degree of passion for baseball or knowledge of the sport, but it is a "must-have" for any baseball enthusiast's library. I hope Salin is able to produce many sequels to this wonderful model of baseball literature. HOF!

Book Description

The world's most popular and respected author on World War II firearms presents his most complete examination of the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine ever. It's absolutely huge - nearly 300 pages packed solid with the kind of useful, hands-on knowledge that readers have been demanding. Detailed, close-up photographs show the specific features that separate valuable rarities from fakes and rebuilds. Covers all the manufacturers, with easy-to-understand explanations of all the components, parts, variations and markings. Learn which parts are proper for which guns and avoid being fooled. Over 300 clear, large photos show you features, markings, overall views and actions shots of the guns being used in battle. 33 tables give you instant reference to the facts you need the most. This is simply the most complete and useful guide to these very important military firearms.

Customer Reviews:

Any of Bruce Canfield's books are worth reading!.......2007-02-04

Bruce Canfield's books are always worthwhile reading for the interested student of history: he always explains the development and technical details of the firearm under review within its historical context, never slacking in detail yet somehow never getting bogged down in minutiae.

If you don't already have _War Baby_ and are interested in the M1 Carbine, this is a worthwhile book; if you already own _WB_ or are planning on getting it and are uninterested in the M1 Garand rifle, you would be better off saving your money & spending it on _War Baby_, which focuses exclusively on the M1 Carbine. I have read _War Baby_ and found the section on the Carbine in Canfield's book to be (understandably) inadequate in comparison, but wholly enjoyable and complete in its own right if not already familiar with the extensive and absolutely thorough coverage provided on the subject by _War Baby_.

Any fan of the Garand rifle is well-served by adding this title to his personal library. That said: I really wish that this title was offered as part of a compendium with Bruce Canfield's _Johnson Rifle_, as that other book is rather pricey in comparison; if the two were combined at the present price of his book on the Johnson rifle, it would be a no-brainer to buy it, offering as it would a fairly comprehensive look at the long arms developed and used by the U.S. immediately prior & during World War II. Something the publisher should consider, as I imagine sales of the book on the Johnson rifle are handicapped by it's high price, while this book is not as thorough as others devoted exclusively to their single topical long arm and hence could benefit from the addition of the added material on the Johnson rifle which competed with the Garand for political favor...

Guide book.......2007-01-10

Although I am not finished reading this book, I am very pleased with the content so far. This book goes into very good detail with good quality pictures. I was looking for a book to assist me in the purchase of an M1, and I feel more comfortable in my quest now that I am much more educated on the specifics of differant models and details purtaining to certain years and serial numbers as pointed out in this book. The content may be a little to detail oriented for the reader that is just trying to gain the history of this weapon, but for the reader looking to learn the "nuts and bolts" of this gun, I would highly recommend this guide.

Incomplete and dry.......2004-05-10

As a collector of U.S. military rifles, I decided
to purchase this book. I found the carbine information
helpful, if a little confusing, and incomplete in
regard to some of the later developments, and there
is NOTHING in here at all helpful about ammo.

I have ALL the M1 books, though. And this area
is where Canfield sort of falls apart and becomes
irrelevant. He completely poo-poohs the Italian
Breda and Beretta rifles, does not explore the
rebuilds or much of the postwar history, does not
mention civilian developments at all, and
badmouths the "import rifles"...which pretty much
means what today's shooters and collectors can
actually get is skipped COMPLETELY.

And a lot of the photos, while pretty good, are not
completely explained. In point of fact, there is
some good material here, but not much of it, and
it is all incomplete.

Collectors Must Have Book.......2000-01-18

I found this book to be just what I was looking for in a Reference/History book. Bruce Canfield must have had the average military collector in mind when he wrote this work. He has updated the original text and the clarity of the pictures is excellent. It has helped answer some of the questions that I had about my M1 Garand. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR COLLECTORS.

Excellent reference book.......1999-06-10

If you own an M1 or are thinking of buying an M1 either Garand style or a carbine you NEED this book. As a collector of military rifles this book paid for itself the first weekend I had it. A must have for U.S. military weapons collectors.

Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine

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Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine

Manufacturer: Andrew Mowbray, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H7Q7T4

Complete Guide To The M1 Garand & M1 Carbine

Average customer rating:

Complete Guide To The M1 Garand & M1 Carbine
Bruce Canfield
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LSU5GA

Average customer rating:

misleading title

What can I say..It Sanden!

Excellent Resource

Blatant plug

Portraits from life in 29 steps

Portraits from Life in 29 Steps
John Howard Sanden , and Elizabeth Sanden
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Painting Beautiful Skin Tones With Color & Light in Oil, Pastel and Watercolor

Problem Solving for Oil Painters: Recognizing What's Gone Wrong and How to Make It Right

Oil Portraits Step by Step

How to Paint Like the Old Masters: Watson-Guptill 25th Anniversary Edition

Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist

ASIN: 1581805829

Book Description

Portraits from Life in 29 Steps presents an elegant, simple and direct procedure for painting a convincing portrait in 29 logical steps. John Howard Sanden has developed this method in more than three decades of painting, demonstrating and teaching.

At the heart of this book are two complete portrait-painting demonstrations; each of the 29 steps is descriptively titled, explained and illustrated to show the clear progression of the portrait. Sanden uses an exciting and appealing premier coup approach to painting, where the artist attempts to execute a finished painting from the very first stroke.

Customer Reviews:

misleading title.......2007-09-09

As a portrait artist, I was hoping to glean some new tips/tricks from this book. What Sanden illustrates in the "29 steps" is nothing more than a quick (completed in one hour) color study of his subjects. He admits in the text toward the end that the portraits featured in the book actually took many days to paint. Really, what a surprise! While it was interesting to see how he prepares his canvas and blocks in his subject, Sanden does not spend any time on the techniques he uses to give his portraits their "finish," which is what most portrait artists are seeking to improve upon. What he does focus on are his own brand of paints that he pushes throughout the pages.
Don't be fooled by the portrait on the cover. If you want to end up with a finished painting that looks like that, you will NOT learn how to do it in this book. If you are a beginning painter, and need to learn basic underpainting, or how to block in a subject, then this book might hold some interest.

What can I say..It Sanden!.......2007-06-13

This book is so good for portrait artist's. Even advanced artist's will find this book helpfull. It's a great way to start, and he is well established in the Art world. it is worth it.

Excellent Resource.......2007-03-16

I was already a portrait painter when I bought this book. I was not turned off by the offer to buy his products. As a matter of fact, I've thought of buying them to check out the quality of his oils. Since buying the book, it has gotten plenty of use. For those of you who gave it a low score, had you really delved into it, you would have seen that he does present a formula for mixing portrait colors. This is something that I found very valuable. The reality is that we can pull a little expertise from all art books and use it to paint like ourselves. This book has been well worth the money I spent. I did not buy it with the intention of painting like the author.

Blatant plug.......2006-12-19

I just glanced through this book at a local art store. Initially it looked to provide some useful information with 2 well laid out "how to paint a portrait" follow alongs. One was sufficiently interesting that I was thinking of buying the book.
Then, alas, it all went wrong. A closer study of the text etc. revealed that the book is nothing more than a shameless plug for the author's own line of paints. And indeed there is nothing wrong with helping the painter out and provide them with the various tones they need pre-mixed. But I don't understand why I have to buy the book. Wouldn't it be better if the book was free or included a coupon for a set of the paints with the cost being the price of the paints MINUS the cost of the book. I cannot think of any scenario where I have to buy one item to then buy the sellers main item. Very poor marketing by Sanden and definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. Isn't this like one step up from "Painting by Numbers"? I will not be buying the book nor his paints. If you want to paint in the style of Sanden then by all means go ahead and buy the book and the paints. But in the long run you are probably doing yourself a great dis-service as your portrait technique will be locked in to a very narrow system.
Get yourself a book on portrait painting that illustrates the tried and tested methods over the years, how to achieve the effects and learn how to mix colours in the process. Also buy your paints from an established manufacturer. You could be so locked in to Sanden's techniques and have a number of his paints. What happens if the company goes bust? - I don't know of any other manufacturer who sell paints labelled by tones. Work your way up the same learning curve that Rembrandt, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Ingres and all the other masters also had to climb. In the long run you'll be much better off for it.
Do you even know what is in Sanden's paints? And how they will endure the tests of time. Stick with a reputable manufacturer whose reputation is founded upon being 100% up front with the artist.
Avoid this book. 0 stars.
I just noticed that North Light are the publishers. For the most part I find their range of books to be uninspiring. Makes me wonder why NL even agreed to publish this book in the first place.

Portraits from life in 29 steps.......2006-08-29

I found it very practical. I felt almost like in a good live art class.
I already improve my tecnique after a got this very good book.

Average customer rating:

Oil Portraits Step by Step
Oil Portraits Step by Step

Oil Portraits Step by Step
Wendon Blake
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486402797

Book Description

Beautifully illustrated guide offers portrait painters a wealth of detailed, practical advice and valuable insights on how to handle oil paint. Discusses drying time and basic techniques; planning, composing and lighting the portrait; oil sketching and drawing with pencil, charcoal, and chalk. Generously enhanced with over 120 illustrations, including 57 in full color.

Customer Reviews:

Oil Portraits Step by Step.......2006-08-18

Easy to follow, showing the same steps for different types of people ie redhead, blond male and female, different lighting. I found the book useful for basics.

Oil Portraits Step by Step.......2005-10-20

This book is a good beginners book for learning the basics of portrait painting.

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