Book Description
Sustainable Homes puts to rest the stigma that "green architecture" is unattractive and unsuitable for residential architecture.For the houses shown in this volume represent design equal to or superior to most conventional houses. Each of these "eco" houses is unique. Some tread lightly on the site by nestling into the land. Others are designed to be extremely well suited to the climactic zones in which they are built. Many use materials that do no harm to the environment—materials that are recycled, salvaged, or harvested.
The houses featured in Sustainable Homes are designed by today's top architects such as Obie Bowman, Fernau and Hartman, Hanrahan and Meyers, and Lake/Flato. They reveal how much the parameters of ecological design have expanded in just a few short years. Over two dozen individual houses are featured -- from locations as diverse as a Canadian cove to the Arizona desert, from Kansas plains to the Norwegian coast, from California bluffs to South Carolina wetlands -- each described through descriptions, photographs, plans, drawings, and schematics.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting ideas from questionable designs.......2007-03-28
Sustainability is something that seems to defy definition at this time. Personally, I believe that part of it has to do with lifestyle. I think it is terrific that when pallacial homes are built they bring efficiencies into play. There are many good ideas in this book. Some of them have already been incorporated into projects I am building. That does not make them "Designs that Respect the Earth". Most of these structures are not what I would call sustainable. I would, however say that they are more effecient than they could have been.
Dont get me wrong, I am glad that these are being built the way they are. It is just that the title makes a bold claim I call to question.
They are, in some cases beautiful and as I said, some of the ideas are being incorporated into current projects of Eco-Con Building Systems, Inc.
I wouldn't buy this as my main reference.......2007-01-27
This is a book of sumptuous photos and graceful, though scant, commentary. Featured are sophisticated homes in beautiful, sometimes dramatic settings. Yet contrasting with the title, the brief description of each house seems more to emphasize aesthetics than "sustainability." Dennis Wedlick's forward succinctly lists a few elements like super-insulation, and non-toxic materials; but too little along these lines is discussed in Trulove's text in relation to the specific houses. Occasional fundamental or innovative details of construction, siting, or materials do show up, but more often the discussion is about traditional architectural concerns (like interior space and extensive windows) and stylistic considerations (like exterior cladding, and interior paneling). Besides the photos, the floor plans and roof-line illustrations are informative (though small). And occasionally the text and the photos come together nicely to reveal an interesting design feature - as when an extensive overhanging roof used in an especially sunny climate provides shade for windows (presumably reducing air-conditioning needs). But this book is nowhere near as intensive in its investigation of its featured homes, nor of sustainabile-home concepts or tech, as numerous other available books on the same topic (such as David Pearson's The Natural House).
TYPICAL TRUELOVE.......2006-01-18
James Grayson Truelove rides the gravytrain of bait-and-switch coffee table fare. His chosen form lures the reader in with promises of topics we long to LEARN about, and a few succulent photographs, only to find the actual product, when delivered, bereft of content...frustrating, unsatisfying calories for an audience truly hungry for information and knowledge. read the reviews for all of his books and you will notice a recurring theme...we've seen most of these houses (even the same shots) in magazines before...readers were hoping for more detail...many people seem really ready for information about how to buck the degrading tide of mainstream housing, how to do it artfully, efficiently, and affordably. it seems almost cruel to cheat such a group of eager, open-minded, ahead-of-the-bellcurve people whose attempts to thwart the destructive housing industry are going to provide answers for the future. what a wasted opportunity. I think Mr. Truelove has the ABILITY, and he obviously has the resources, to do much better.
Beautiful pictures, information lacking.......2004-10-03
I love to collect books of house plans and blueprints and I especially like those that are environmentally friendly. Some day my family wants to afford to build such a nice house so these give us ideas. However, that only really works if we have full information -- like what types of materials are used, layouts of the floors that we can read, etc. Several, about 40% of the designs in this book lacked understandable or complete basic blueprints for the structure. Only a page or two about the building and the philosophy behind it were included. Primarily this is a pretty picture book and for $30 it should be more.
Book Description
The RAW file format used by digital cameras is essentially the raw data that a camera captures when it takes a photo. RAW files allow the digital photographer to edit and manipulate their photos with less data loss than in other file formats (such as JPEG). There are many RAW conversion tools, and it's often a good idea to use more than one to get optimal results.
The Art of RAW Conversion shows digital photographers how to work with the RAW files generated by a digital camera to produce the best possible image quality in finished photos. The authors (both experts in digital photography, file processing, printing, and color management) describe the conversion tools used to enhance RAW files and maximize photo quality. All techniques covered are based on practical experience and explained with step-by-step instructions, so that readers will be able to apply what they learn and create their own fine art-quality photographs. Covers Adobe Photoshop CS and other leading RAW converters.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, though slightly dated, survey of RAW converters.......2007-04-01
With the plethora of image processing and editing tools available to today's digital photographers, making optimal choices from among those offerings has become daunting. Here to shed some light on the issue and help with the decision-making is a book from which every advanced digital darkroom practitioner should benefit.
When digital imaging really began to reach the consciousness level of consumers in the late 1990s, file capture was most often in JPEG format. As the public enthusiasm for digital accelerated, serious photographers loudly debated quality issues, especially as related to film. Then along came RAW -- a digital capture mode using minimal in-camera processing with much more post-capture flexibility and strong potential for higher quality results. Early RAW files could only be converted using the camera manufacturer's proprietary software which often lacked convenience and elegance. Then Adobe popularized RAW with distribution of their Camera Raw Photoshop plug-in which through reverse engineering enabled one program to convert RAW files from many different brands of cameras. This proved very convenient to many who were already using Photoshop as their primary image editor and opened the door to unprecedented control of the digital image development process, including post-capture adjustment of white balance, exposure, and other variables. Numerous third-party RAW converters quickly followed, making informed choices tough without trying them all.
But when there's a need, someone usually rises to fill it...hence this book. Uwe Steinmueller has written a number of books (some co-authored with Juergen Gulbins) in both print and e-book format. What this edition does exceedingly well is describe in detail the concepts of digital capture, color management, and the benefits of shooting in RAW file format, and then it lays out the choices among RAW conversion programs currently available. The authors follow with additional info on perfecting images, batch processing, the DNG format, profiling, and creating black and white images. I know of no other printed volume that provides as comprehensive a survey of current RAW tools with cogent comments on qualitative capability and appropriate application. Furthermore, the clear, concise discussions of often highly technical subjects are really excellent, and the order and manner in which this rather complex collection of topics is presented is logical and understandable - really well done.
A couple of caveats. This is not a beginner's book. While those who wish to learn digital photography thoroughly will benefit a great deal from it, the sheer weight of technical information might stymie someone relatively new to digital imaging. Secondly, technology has moved so rapidly that this book is already dated. There have been significant changes in the industry since the date of publication that alter the choices in RAW converters. Hopefully an updated version of the book will arrive soon to bring issues to a more current status. Nevertheless, as a whole, this collection of information is an important resource for serious digital imagers and is highly recommended.
EXTREME RAW PHOTOGRAPHY!!.......2007-02-27
Are you an amateur or a professional photographer? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Juergen Gulbins and Uwe Steinmueller, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows you how to achieve art-quality results with your digital camera.
Gulbins and Steinmueller, begin by preparing you for implementing a RAW conversion workflow. Then, the authors focus on the RAW conversion process and the software you'll use to implement it. Next, they present the key features of four more converters. They also cover Adobe's new integrated digital photography application, Lightroom. Finally, the authors focus on more specialized topics.
This most excellent book deals with the conversion of images shot using RAW format into images in a standardized image format, such as TIFF or JPEG. Perhaps more importantly, this book focuses mostly on the process of RAW conversion: what you should consider when shooting RAW, how to prepare files for conversion, and how to set up an efficient conversion workflow as part of your total image workflow.
Great Read!.......2007-02-07
After studying this book, I now understand RAW and it's capabilities better than ever!! Highly Recommend!
For the neo-pro.......2006-09-24
Many photographers surrender control over their images to their cameras' built-in converters: take back the art by understanding how to manipulate RAW files with THE ART OF RAW CONVERSION: HOW TO PRODUCE ART-QUALITY PHOTOS WITH ADOVE PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND LEADING RAW CONVERTERS. From calibrating a digital camera to work with RAW files and understanding differences between the leading RAW converters to manipulating both color and black and white images, this is for the neo-pro who wants to get the most out of his camera.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Great discussion of RAW workflow and more.......2006-09-16
Most digital cameras deliver pictures in jpeg format by default. Digital SLRs and many more advanced digicams provide a RAW format as an alternative. While jpeg provides convenience, the RAW format can give you more photographic information, more flexibility, and ultimately better pictures.
As the subtitle says, Art of RAW Conversion will show your How to Produce Art-Quality Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Leading RAW Converters. This book will give you everything you need to get the most out of your RAW images. The introduction provides a clear description of how digicams work and why working with RAW can be so advantageous. The RAW image can be thought of as a digital negative or slide while the jpeg is more like a print. With RAW images, you can choose camera settings such as white balance, sharpness, saturation, and contrast later while reviewing the picture on your computer rather than at the moment you take the shot. Also, many RAW images capture 12 bits per pixel while jpegs only store eight. The extra headroom RAW provides can save a shot with blown highlights or dark shadows.
After describing the mechanics of digital photography and convincing the reader of the merits of RAW, the book gives a thorough overview of many RAW converters that are available. This includes those that come with the camera and third party options like Adobe Camera RAW, RawShooter, Lightroom, and Aperture. Each converter is covered in detail and compared with others. You'll get a good idea of each program's strengths and weaknesses.
The book goes beyond topics specific to RAW images with discussions on color management, workflow, file management, and more. There are some very helpful techniques on general image perfection such as sharpening, noise reduction, correcting distortion, etc.
I would recommend this book to anyone who:
- Wants to learn more about digital cameras and the RAW image format
- Wants a good comparison of RAW image converters and instructions on their use
- Wants to improve their digital photography workflow and image correction techniques.
The book is beautifully printed in glossy color with many examples throughout.
Book Description
His name is John Blacksad. He's a private detective. He's seen much evil in the past, but never in his long life has he encountered a case as bizarre, as twisted, or as deadly as the one he accepts now. In a town where white supremacists have moved in and are brutally seizing control, Blacksad is asked to find a kidnapped child and bring the kidnappers to justice. As he gets deeper into his investigation, Blacksad discovers a tale of sickening horror involving murder and worse that condemns some of the town's most powerful citizens. 2004 WINNER OF THE 'PRIX DU PUBLIC' & 'BEST ARTWORK' AWARDS at Angouleme International Comics Festival in France--the most prestigious comic awards in Europe.
Customer Reviews:
Spanish langauge, not English.......2005-09-15
Upon opening the box, I was disappointed to find that this product is the Spanish-language printing. The product details currently plainly state "Language: English;" this ISBNs match. As I don't speak Spanish, I'm returning it. Beware!
On the other hand, the pictures are great. :P
Book Description
In the second volume of his autobiography, Mencken recalls his early years as a reporter. On January 16, 1899, H.L. Mencken applied for a job with the Baltimore Morning Herald, much to the editor's amusement. But Mencken persisted, and came back to the offices night after night until finally, in February, the editor sent him out into a blizzard to see if anything worth printing was happening on the snow-covered streets. Soon, Mencken was assigned to the police beat, and then to city hall, where the really big crooks worked.
Mencken learned his craft so well that by 1901 he became the Herald 's Sunday editor, and by 1906 was hired as an editor of the Baltimore Sun, where he quickly attracted a national following. Sustained by a steady diet of crabs, cigars, whiskey, and beer, he haunted Baltimore's jails and courtrooms, its churches, theaters, and saloons, and chased fire wagons, interviewed cops and coroners, battled politicians and crusaders, and raced back to the newsroom to beat his deadline by a second or two.
Customer Reviews:
H.L. Mencken: The Sage of Baltimore.......2000-06-16
It's great to see that much of Mencken's work is still available to the common people. It shouldn't be isolated in Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library, and/or Johns Hopkins' University.
The H.L.Mencken room at the Pratt, has been called "the cradle of 20th Century literature." Alistair Cooke, said it exists..."for the comfort of sinners and the astonishment of the virtuous."
As you can see, the author of "Newspaper Days: 1899-1906", was regarded as an iconoclast during his lifetime, and is still celebrated for fresh, refreshing views and commentary. H.L. Mencken was, above all else, a critic.
Mencken wrote his autobiography in three separate volumes cumulatively known, in the world of journalism and literature, as the "Days Books". In addition to the work under consideration here: "Newspaper Days", the other two are "Happy Days: 1880-1892", and "Heathen Days: 1890-1936." As the title suggest, this book looks at H.L. Mencken's life from 1899, when at 19 he began his half-century career in journalism - at the now defunct Baltimore Morning Herald - through his move to the local newspaper of record: The Baltimore Evening Sun. This relationship with the Sun Papers (there was also a Morning Sun) lasted until 1950, when H.L.M. retired from the board of parent A.S. Abell Company.
It was apparent, even this early in the career of "the irreverent Mr. Mencken", that his niche was writing opinion and criticism; some of it shocking to the establishment; all of it entertaining.
Don't let the early period under discussion in this book (1899-1906) lead anyone to believe that the material is dated or old fashioned. Au contraire, Mencken is indeed talking of events which occured a long time ago, but evey word is perfect for the job it is called upon to do. His diction and syntax are all-important.
After all, the reason for remembering and reading a critic of an earlier time, like Mencken, is not the issues he wrote about, but the manner in which he said what he said. It is the WAY he said it -- he was a stylist.
A great man. A great book. Enjoy!
Average customer rating:
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Newspaper Days 1899 to 1906
H. L. Mencken
Manufacturer: Ams Pr Inc
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Newspaper Days 1899-1906
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
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ASIN: B000G7NRPM |
Product Description
A continuation of the author's autobiographical memoit, noting his life as a reporter and editor in Maryland in this volume
Amazon.com
More than a century after their deaths, Richard and Isabel Burton are legend. Sir Richard Burton was a prolific writer, an insatiable explorer, a linguist, and a translator who pursued controversy and risk as surely as adventure. In 1853, disguised as an Afghani doctor, he became one of the first Europeans to enter the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. He later led an expedition to discover the source of the Nile--whether he got there first was later protractedly disputed. He spoke dozens of languages and translated the erotic works The Arabian Nights, The Kama Sutra, and The Perfumed Garden into English, making him fall afoul of the National Vigilance Society and the Society for the Suppression of Vice. Isabel, for her part, defied her upper-crust family to marry Richard and lead the "wild, roving, vagabond life" she had dreamed of as a stifled young lady. She was her husband's collaborator, editor, and most vehement advocate. She defended his oft-besmirched reputation, promoted his writing, successfully campaigned to make him knighted--even arranged a dinner with the queen. After Richard's death, Isabel came under fire for burning his papers, including the Kama Sutra translation. This double biography by Mary S. Lovell (biographer, too, of Amelia Earhart, Beryl Markham, and Jane Digby) attempts to dispel many of the myths that have grown up around the pair of famous Victorians. She defends Isabel's burning her husband's papers as an act designed to protect his reputation and privacy. Lovell points out that even after their being burned, more of Richard's papers remained than were left by many of his contemporaries. And she cites them as primary source material for the book. Lovell also strenuously contradicts the long-held belief that Richard was gay--his interest in and writings about male sexuality, she believes, were borne purely of anthropological research. The Burtons, she assures readers, had an ideal marriage in every way, but she offers little supporting material to prove her claim. Lovell's views seem sometimes to be colored by her adoration for her subjects. But the obvious breadth of her research and her narrative skill make Rage to Live one of the more distinguished biographies of late.
Book Description
An "extraordinary biography" (New York Times Book Review) of a brilliant pair of adventurers. Their marriage was both improbable and inevitable. Isabel Arundell was a schoolgirl, the scion of England's most distinguished Catholic family. When she first saw him while walking at a seaside resort, Richard Burton had already made his mark as a linguist (he was fluent in twenty-nine languages), scholar, soldier, and explorer--at once a symbol of Victorian England's vision of empire and an avowed rebel against its mores. When she turned and saw him staring after her, she decided that she would marry him. By their next meeting, Burton had become the first infidel to infiltrate Mecca as one of the faithful, and, in an expedition to discover the source of the Nile, would soon be the first white man to see Lake Tanganyika. After being married, the Burtons traveled and experienced the world, from diplomatic postings in Brazil and Africa to hair-raising adventures in the Syrian desert. In later life Richard courted further controversy as a self-proclaimed erotologist and the translator of The Kama Sutra. Based on previously unavailable archives, Mary Lovell has written a compelling joint biography that sets Isabel in her proper place as Burton's equal in daring and endurance, a fascinating figure in her own right.
Customer Reviews:
A comprehensive analysis of Burton's life.......2007-02-23
The author has done a very good job of investigative research and provides likely answers for many of the mysteries surrounding Burton's life (and loves). This seems the best researched biography of the fascinating Sir Richard Francis Burton.
A TRULY REMARKABLE COUPLE.......2005-10-15
While Richard and Isabel Burton were of the Victorian age it cannot be said that they shared it's values. Richard Burton was was one of the most remarkable individuals of all times. A true scholar, a writer, soldier, African explorer and master linguist he is without equal in history. Isabel tirelessly promoted her husbands career and accompanied him on some of his many expeditions. The tales of his travels in search of the source the Nile with Richard Hanning Speke are the stuff of legend. His command of languge was so great he was able to enter both Mecca and Medina and while there discuss the finer points of the Koran with those he met. He wrote many tomes and also translated the Kama Sutra and The Arabian Nights and by so doing incurred the displeasure of his Victorian contemporaries. He was greatly interested in sexual matters and studied the sexual habits of many cultures. He abhorred Victorian prudishness and by so doing spent most of his life swimming against the current. This book was amazing and I found it difficult to put down.
None.......2005-09-28
Excellent/Complete book, greatly written.
Hard to put it down once you have began reading it.
I would recommend it to everyone.
I have actually ordered a few of Sir Burton's books after reading this as he was such an interesting man.
Not Perfect, but there is no option for 4.5 stars.......2005-03-07
A Rage to Live by Mary Lovell is an outstanding biography of both Sir Richard and the Lady Burton. Burton is about the only person that I have bothered to read multiple biograhies of. He was so complex and his life was just THAT interesting! There are a few other treatments of Sir Richard still in print, and Lovell takes these into account in her own telling. A great deal of data are available for the first time in this book, and the author uses this information adroitly to clear up long-standing misconceptions (and outright slanders) of both Burtons.
Lovell provides a good bit of compelling discussion about the conflict between Burton and John Hanning Speke over the source of the Nile. It has been common for Burton biographers to over-simplify the nature of the disagreement: Burton thought the Nile originated in Lake Tanganyika, Speke argued for Victoria Nyanza. Not so! Speke only really WANTED the source of the Nile to be Victoria (the lake, not the queen), whereas Burton, a Man of Science, argued that the observations at hand were insufficient to decide one way or the other. With the available information, Burton understood that Tanganyika or some as yet unknown spring could still have been the head of the Nile. Lovell explains well the behind-the-scenes wrangling at the Royal Geographical Society by Burton's detractors to back Speke as much out of spite as any other reason.
What really compelled me to read A Rage to Live -- besides what might best be called an obsession of the man -- was my desire to learn more about the Lady Burton, Isabel. She was an independent and interesting person herself, but she has been abused at the hands of other Burton biographers. To them, Isabel was an over-zealous Catholic, the schemer ready to use her influence and Richard's name for her own advancement, and the arsonist of Burton's papers and manuscript of the Scented Garden. Lovell makes the case that this is hogwash, the previous biographers have given too much credit to the bigoted opinions of Richard's spinster niece. Among the new information provided by Lovell's research is the fact that Richard was instructing Isabel what to write on his behalf. She was very much his partner in all aspects of their life together, and Lovell's story does provide some justice for the Lady Burton. Most significantly, Lovell demonstrates that Isabel burned at Trieste what Richard had instructed her to burn, and that many important papers did indeed survive.
A Rage to Live is an enormous volume, more than 900 pages -- my train ride to and from work has been considerably lightened since I finished reading the book. It has the best maps of the recent Burton biographies, but the fewest illustrations. Sources are well documented. Previous reviewers have commented upon the state of the editing of this book; they make some good points. But speaking (NOT speke-ing) as someone who has tried to read everything that they can find by and about Sir Richard Francis Burton, Lovell's A Rage to Live is the best single source on the subject.
The final word? No. Illuminating? Definitely........2002-07-18
Author Lovell clearly wants to refurbish Isabel Burton's image, and she has done so. In doing so, Lovell does not appear to have let the desire to attain that goal outrun the evidence at hand. Indeed, Lovell provides the reader with a considerable body of previously unknown and/or unused material which supports her contention that Isabel Burton---long branded as some sort of religion-filled and -frenzied lunatic---was of a piece with many other Victorian women who actually helped their husband's careers immeasurably. (Consider, for example, Elizabeth Custer, wife of George Armstrong Custer.) This book is not the end-all-be-all for those interested in Richard Burton, however, for there is actually very little in the way of detail about his travels and experiences. This makes sense when the narrative hits areas Burton himself purposely left blank (his Indian years, forinstance). But this approach makes for problems in areas Burton purposely highlighted. I enjoyed the book as a book, and found Lovell a stylish writer who alerts her readers to her own biases (always welcome in a historian). But for those who have read about Burton before this could---stress on "could"---be an oddly unsatisfying piece of work. For those who come to the subject fresh, or wish to round out their understandings about this intriguing couple (hence the "could" caveat above), this is a wonderful book. It is, after all, not all about Richard (although Richard might've thought so; yet even here, Lovell makes him a good deal more rounded in his sensibilities and sensitivities than many who've earlier given him a go ). The book is about a couple, and within those parameters it is a solid and fascinating volume.
Books:
- Tadao Ando: Light and Water
- The Architecture of Warren & Wetmore
- The Art of French Country Living (Travel & Style)
- The Chrysler Building: Creating a New York Icon, Day by Day
- The City After the Automobile: An Architect's Vision
- The Elements of Style: A Practical Encyclopedia of Interior Architectural Details from 1485 to the Present
- The Genius in the Design : Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome
- The Ghosts of Berlin: Confronting German History in the Urban Landscape
- The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping / Harvard Design School Project on the City 2
- The History of Castles: Fortifications Around the World
Books Index
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The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture
The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options (Chelsea Green Guides for Homeowners)
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