The Arts of Asia: Materials, Techniques, Styles

Book Description

The first book to analyze and survey the extraordinary arts of this vast region by material.

Throughout history, the beauty and value of the arts of Asia have been derived largely from the exquisite quality of the natural materials from which they are crafted. Materials have spiritual significance in the Asian cultures that use them, and the art is often born from that significance. For instance, jade, because of its hardness and durability, has long been associated with immortality in China, while bamboo, which bends and sways in the strongest winds, symbolizes flexibility in East Asian cultures.

Many of the materials that are most often used in Asia were actually discovered, invented, or first worked there, and they pervade every aspect of life—practical, religious, and artistic. Often materials are not what they seem to a Western eye. "Rice" paper is made from mulberry wood pulp; jade is not carved—it is too hard—but abraded. Lacquer, now used for luxury decorations, was originally a protective coating on food vessels.

Ten chapters, illustrated with over 400 photographs, are devoted to the most significant materials: jade, silk, porcelain, lacquer, ivory, bamboo, paper, gold, wood, and stone. Each chapter is divided into three main sections: the characteristics of the material, its historical and social significance, its etymology, and its associated legends; the techniques by which it is transformed into art objects; and, country by country, the principal artistic styles used throughout Asia.

Complete with details of museums with major collections and of where to buy Asian art, and photographs of Asian art used in contemporary interior design, this book will not only serve the needs of the ever-growing number of collectors but also be seen as required reading for any student of Asia and its cultures.

Featuring work from: Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. Over 400 color illustrations.

Average customer rating:
Validity and standardization of the McAdory art test,
Margaret McAdory Siceloff
Manufacturer: Teachers College, Columbia University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000867JUU

Book Description

Many people are parents, and many parents are thirsty. Yet too many parents allow their infant sons and daughters to lie about idly: napping, drinking milk, and whatnot. Why not put them to work? Observe how tots enjoy the shapes and colors, all the while learning how to mix a variety of basic cocktails. Thanks, Baby!

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious.......2007-01-18

This book is fun, fun, fun! You have to have a sense of humor to enjoy it. When my kids know the difference, it will be put up onto the adults only book shelf but my one year old enjoys the pictures and I enjoy the thought of a yummy cocktail.

Outrageous offbeat "board book" for hip parents .......2006-12-22

This book is pure fun and great for folks with a quirky edgy sense of humor. The reviewer who gave the book one star because they said the description insinuated that the book had suggestions for activities...like what? How baby and parents can have playtime by making drinks together along with sugar cookie cutouts? This book is a joke book...purely fun and outrageous! A little coffee table book of fun for sure!

A laugh for the "cool parents" you know.......2006-06-20

As a non-kid person myself, I was delighted to find a baby gift that would both amuse my new-parent friends and represent my own antisentimental view of the little buggers. Yes, this is silly; yes, it's short--it's a board book, after all. But it's sturdy, the illustrations are charming, and you really can mix a drink using the pictures. Have fun with it.

It's fun, and that's all it's supposed to be........2006-03-11

We were given this book as a gift, and it has kept on giving! Everyone who stops by gets a kick out of it. Thus, in my opinion, it's definitely worth purchasing. Oh, yeah. Cheers! And thanks, baby!

Would have appreciated a preview.......2006-03-02

This book is based on an incredibly cute concept - put those lazy, good for nothing babies to work already! I bought it based solely on that. I was intrigued. The book is pretty darn cute, I must admit, but I was hoping for something more. Like how about mention of the auntie, who will undoubtedly be the one cool enough to be giving this book? If you're looking for a new mommy gift that's unique, buy this book - just make sure the new mommy has a good sense of humor first!

Book Description

"Reel Racism goes beyond reflection theories of the media to examine cinema's active participation in the operations of racism-- a complex process rooted in the dynamics of representation. Written for undergraduates and graduate students of film studies and philosophy, Reel Racism focuses on methods and frameworks that analyze films for their production of meaning and how those meanings participate in a broader process of justifying, naturalizing, or legitimizing difference, privilege, and violence based on race. In addition to analyzing how the process of racism is articulated in specific films, this text examines how specific meanings can resist their function of ideological containment, and instead, offer a perspective of a more collective, egalitarian social system-- one that transcends the discourse of race."

Customer Reviews:

hard to read.......2007-04-07

If you have not seen the movies the author writes about the book is hard to understand. It was hard to read and I found it quite boring.

"Reel Racism" is the Real Thing.......2001-02-22

Simply put, the best book there is on race and cinema. Rocchio refuses the simple, and simplistic, route of identifying negative racial stereotypes in film (a route that, as he points out, has governed previous studies of race and cinema). Rather, he explores the ways in which a variety of films--including The Birth of a Nation, Driving Miss Daisy, and Mississippi Burning--actively participate in the creation and circulation of racial discourse. This approach enables him to show that even seemingly "positive" depictions of African American characters (as in Driving Miss Daisy) can participate in the construction of racial difference and inequality. Rocchio does not, however, mean to suggest that film is solely a racist vehicle; he also includes readings of films--notably those of Spike Lee--that challenge or contest processes of racism. What's great about the book, too, is that it's accessible for students of film or for a general audience; it's not meant only (or even mostly) for film scholars, as evidenced by the straightforward prose and careful selection of footnotes. And the book's accessibility is particularly important since film, and the racial discourses Rocchio identifies in film, aren't confined to a particular segment of the population either.

Customer Reviews:

The Ideal Source for Composer Biographies.......2004-10-15

When Greene's Encyclopedia was published, I had already been wanting something like this for years: a biographical dictionary that would include the full range of composers, down to the little-known ones; and that would treat each composer at the appropriate length, neither a 15-page treatise nor a 15-line teaser.

When Greene's book appeared, I was stunned to see the volume I had imagined, and it even has an extra element of interest: it is arranged chronologically, so that you can see how composers are grouped by era. This arrangement requires the extra step of using an index at the beginning, but that is a minor inconvenience. Greene's articles are just the right length, with the right mix of scholarship and the author's personal style. At over 1300 pages of small print, it covers almost every composer you'll likely encounter: 2400 total. In short, this is the ideal one-volume source for information about composers.

I assumed the music world would acclaim this book and it would become a standard. Strangely, though, I never saw it reviewed or even mentioned in print. Then, at some point, it went out of print. Too bad the used copies are so expensive-- pick it up if you don't mind the price. Someone please reprint Greene!

Book Description

Former Unrestricted World Checker Champion introduces you to the game and lets you in on championship secrets. Shots and traps, opening "blitzkrieg" moves, end game, more.

Customer Reviews:

Win at Checkers.......2006-02-26

The strategies and tactics in this book are great; however, the writing style of the author is a little stiff and makes it a bit more difficult to follow through parts of the book.

It should be noted that there are actually few good checkers book published at all. Chess is more complex, and therefore tomes upon tomes have been published about it. However, the relative simpleness of the game of checkers should then draw many more people to learn how to play this game.

Becoming skilled at checkers, then, is one of the objectives the author has achieved (the book was first published in 1956 and is a revision of the work originally published by A.S. Barnes in 1941).

This book, truly, is a classic.

A Great Way to Get Started.......2002-05-20

If you know little about "real" checkers this is the book to get you started. It is entertaining and witty and helps you learn conceptual thinking about the game. It covers tactics ("pitches" and "shots") and important endgame positions. I didn't rate it 5 stars because it is really light on opening play; you'll need another book such as Reinfeld's for that. The book is inexpensive yet contains hours of useful instruction. If you've played on-line, stared at the board and wondered "what next" or if you're losing because of blunders, this is THE book to read first.

No Longer Dog Meat!.......2001-01-12

I began playing checkers at YAHOO a few months ago. Got killed. When I was a young boy (48 now) I remember getting beat at checkers by my older sisters to the point where I would get so angry that I'd throw the board across the room during the game. And so, once again I was getting stomped by 15 year old Austrailians. I read this book. And re-read it. And studied it. Now I WIN most of the time. It's a very fast way to become a good intermediate player. Buy it!

An Excellent first book.......1997-02-21

Hopper's book is one of-if not the-best available for the player who wants to become" a pretty good" player. It contains basic information about the the game that will take you a step above the average player. For example ,there are several common techniques for pulling off two for one and two for three jumps. After finishing the book--and practicing a little-- you will be a better player and have a better understanding of this much misunderstood game. It's a rare book: good and cheap

Average customer rating:

Great book
Packed with Information
Excellent coverage of topics, let down by typesetting
Learn Strategy!

How to Win at Checkers
Fred Reinfeld
Manufacturer: Wilshire Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Email Games: Chess, Checkers, Backgammon

ASIN: 0879800682

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2006-08-07

A great book for intermediate level players or determined beginners. Won't make you a Master, but you'll still be better than everyone you know.

Packed with Information.......2002-05-25

Reinfeld has truly excelled in this book about checkers. This is the most complete book on checkers you will ever find, in or out of print.

The book covers tactics such as traps and shots and then goes on to cover just about every important opening to at least some degree, often with main-lines and numerous variations. Finally, the section on endings is quite complete; nowhere else can I find the four kings vs. three situation covered.

Whenever I have a question I turn first to this book and almost always find an answer.

Be aware that information is packed tightly into every page and you will need to study each situation carefully, playing through the variations on a second board. For instance, opening variations are often contained in a few lines of commentary; you will lose out if you don't pay attention to these variations. It is clearly not a book for dabblers, but one which requires substantial effort, which will be well rewarded.

This book does not get a lot of attention from the experts, perhaps because Reinfeld's is known primarily as a chess writer. In fact this book is a must-have for serious beginners and intermediates. If you combine this with The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Checker Puzzles you have enough study material for months, and your game will improve rapidly.

(Don't be put off by the cover photo, which is full of errors and serves to trivialize and stereotype the game of checkers. The contents are what matters.)

Excellent coverage of topics, let down by typesetting.......2000-04-17

I found this book to be a very good introduction to checkers. It covers, in depth, sacrifices (pitches) to set up two-for-one exchanges, and the "five positions" that most commonly occur in the endgame. The analysis of openings is thorough, and a major plus for me was the section on forcing draws from "losing" positions. Only two things stopped me from ranking this book at 5 stars - the pictures of the boards are just too big, and are sometimes two pages back from where the written analysis takes place. Also some sample historic games would have been nice. The author has used an appendix to describe different versions of checkers around the world and this is, frankly, useless. That space could have been better used by a couple of analysed historic games. Other than these minor peeves, it is an excellent book. I would not hesitate to recommend it to a checkers enthusiast from beginner to intermediate level.

Learn Strategy!.......1999-12-31

Reinfield's book is a must for the serious checker player. He covers various situations, openings and endgames, and provides the reader situation problems to solve on his/her own. My game was improved by reading this book.

Average customer rating:

Checkers How to Win
Henry Spayth
Manufacturer: Stein Publishing House, Chicago, IL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O7YCUI

Average customer rating:

Checkers: How to win
Preston H Ketchum
Manufacturer: F.R. Wendemuth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000873VSS

Average customer rating:

How to Win At Checkers
Arthur Reisman
Manufacturer: American Photographic Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UHKTJK

Average customer rating:

How to Win at Checkers
Fred Reinfeld
Manufacturer: Sterling Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RRYMV4

How to win at Othello (A Harvest/HBJ book)

Average customer rating:

Beginners would do well to avoid it...
Goro Hasegawa was the Japanese re-discoverer of Othello

How to win at Othello (A Harvest/HBJ book)
Goro Hasegawa
Manufacturer: Jove Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0156422158

Customer Reviews:

Beginners would do well to avoid it..........2004-10-03

Othello, devised by Hasegawa-san in the 1970s, is an improved version of the century-old English game, Reversi. [What is called Reversi on-line is almost always Othello rather than Reversi].

This book was written soon after Othello was devised, before anyone understood much about the game. Unfortunately it shows, and beginners would do well to avoid it - at least as a source of ideas on strategy and tactics - because it will lead them down a deceptively appealing blind alley.

Because of its many diagrams, however, it is may be of use to those who know enough to recognise where it goes wrong but otherwise I recommend it for historical interest only.

Better resources can be found free on the Web, in the form of strategy guides, illustrative applets and programs that can beat even the best humans. A printed alternative is Othello: Brief & Basic by Ted Landau, which is old but still excellent (as far as it goes).

Goro Hasegawa was the Japanese re-discoverer of Othello.......1999-01-15

Goro Hasegawa was the Japanese rediscoverer of Othello. Originally, the game was known as Reversi. Two rival Englishmen each claimed to have invented the game late 19th century. Hasegawa modified the rules slightly and his father, a Shakespearean scholar game it the name Othello, because the reversals in the game reminded him of the plot of the play. This book is the only widely distributed manual of Othello strategy. Although it may have some value for the collector, unfortunately most Othello players regard the strategies discussed in the book as being obsolete and even misleading. Readers who are interested in the game should look for resources on the Internet.

Average customer rating:

Misleading! TITLE.. Should say Pool Checkers"
Very good book
Subject is Pool Checkers, not "Straight" Checkers.

Play Checkers and Win
Vladimir M. Kaplan
Manufacturer: Etera Kaplan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Email Games: Chess, Checkers, Backgammon

ASIN: 0961143622

Customer Reviews:

Misleading! TITLE.. Should say Pool Checkers".......2000-06-29

No where in the title does this book spell out that it is for " Pool Checkers". a much different game than the version that most americans play, Luckly i found a copy at the library, so all that was wasted was time. I dont know anayone who's played this and regular checkers is contrary to popular belief a life study in itself.

Very good book.......2000-02-17

After reading this book,I realiged that I had always understimated the potential of sacrifice in checker.Thank to writer Vladimir Kaplan my checker knowledge has been widened tremendously.

Subject is Pool Checkers, not "Straight" Checkers........1999-03-25

An excellent book by an unsurpassed master of the subject--but the subject is Pool Checkers, which has different rules from "Straight" or "English" Checkers. Pool Checkers, in which single men can jump backwards and kings move like Bishops in chess, is played in the U.S. mostly by Black Americans and Russian immigrants. The book is written in awkward English, translated from Russian, and is in the algebraic, chess-style notation rather than the usual numeric checkers notation.

Average customer rating:

Win at Checkers
Millard Hopper
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLVB5I

Checkers game played correctly is no-win situation.(Canada Wire): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press

Average customer rating:

Checkers game played correctly is no-win situation.(Canada Wire): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000U1X0MO
Release Date: 2007-07-21

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on July 20, 2007. The length of the article is 862 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: Checkers game played correctly is no-win situation.(Canada Wire)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 20, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: A2

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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