Book Description
Vienna at the dawn of the twentieth century was a city like no other—filled with avant-garde artists and bursting with intellectual and sensual energy. But this burgeoning society was constantly at odds with the conservative and often disapproving nineteenth-century culture. This fascinating book focuses on the figures at the center of this controversy: Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and others whose radical artistic expressions were shocking as well as ground-breaking. This generously illustrated volume examines the numerous levels on which the new culture clashed with the old, including sexuality, power, and religion. It analyzes the impact these artists' works had on their surroundings, and places them in an historical context that illuminates the social and cultural debate they instigated. It also explores why art that seemed so provocative at its conception now represents a standard of excellence for the modern audience.
Book Description
A virtual onslaught of acerbic, confrontational wordplay, The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary offers some 1,600 wickedly clever definitions to the vocabulary of everyday life. Little is sacred and few are safe, for Ambrose Bierce targets just about any pursuit, from matrimony to immortality, that allows our willful failings and excesses to shine forth.
This is the most extensively annotated edition of a work by Bierce ever published, and the first edition of The Devil's Dictionary to provide detailed bibliographical information on every entry. It will be celebrated by wits and word lovers everywhere.
First time in paperback.
Customer Reviews:
Great Gift.......2007-08-01
This is a great book. The sarcasm and the definitions are the best. If you know someone who is a book lover or just enjoys quick wit-this book is for them. I bought two more just for gifts. It's one of those books that you can always pick up and find a smile...
A Beautiful Mind.......2006-04-26
If truth is beauty, and beauty truth, this is one good looking book. As an aspiring cynic, finding this book was akin to Ahab finding the whale. (I have no idea what that means). I don't think this book could be written today. Most of Bierce's definitions have become accepted fact. The book belongs in the library of everyone who believes Political Correctness is the beginning of the end of the world. Without the ability to communicate honestly, we are doomed. If you don't agree, you're just a bigoted fool. (see Bierce definitions). A great, funny, lucid book.
A very strange dictionary.......2005-04-07
skep·tic also scep·tic (skptk)
n.
1.One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally
accepted conclusions.
2.One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3.Philosophy.
a.often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
b.Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of
Elis (360?-272? B.C.).
[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine.
See spek- in Indo-European Roots.]
cyn·ic (snk)
n.
1.A person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.
2.A person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.
3.Cynic A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only
good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.
[Latin cynicus, Cynic philosopher, from Greek kunikos, from kun, kun-, dog. See kwon- in
Indo-European Roots.]
Such are the real dictionary definitions of the stance which Ambrose Bierce adopted in considering the world. Beginning in 1881 and continuing to 1906, he created a series of sardonic word definitions of his own. Many of these were collected and published as The Cynic's Word Book, which he later protested was "a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve." So in 1911, he pulled together a collection that was more to his own liking and called it The Devil's Dictionary. The entries are a tad uneven in quality, but most are amusing and some are great. Each reader will have his own favorites, some of mine are as follows :
ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.
ALLIANCE, n. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.
BIGOT, n. One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
CONSULT, v.i. To seek another's disapproval of a course already
decided on.
CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.
DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the
growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This
dictionary, however, is a most useful work.
DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.
EDUCATION, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.
FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our
friends are true and our happiness is assured.
HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
IDIOT, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot's activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but "pervades and regulates the whole." He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line.
POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of
principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
And, my choice for the very best among them :
CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
By all means, read it and pick out your own; you're sure to find a few that tickle your fancy.
Loved it..........2004-08-31
I love all things cynical and witty so I found the Unabridged Devil's Dictionary really appealing (I tracked the book down after reading a few exerpts on a quotes website). If you like the book (yet to buy, use the see inside feature to see if it appeals to your sense of humour) I also recommend Molvania by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch as well as The Soddit by A.R.R.R. Roberts.
I love sardonic humor.......2003-06-30
I'll admit it, I'm a tech dork. I work for an Internet company and this book is perfect for tag and signature lines for email. Although on a more serious note the definitions found here are not the dictionary definitions but the definitions that modern day society has reflected upon them. While a word, item, or identification for something may mean one thing in the dicitonary, we tend to stereotype or re-clasify it in our times as something completly different. Read the excerpts for some good examples. While the book is a compilation of pieces written back in the turn of the 20th centurey, a lot of the sarcastic or sardonic definitions still hold true. Definately an interseting book.
Book Description
Herein are contained the sardonic definitions published by Ambrose Bierce as The Cynic's Word Book in 1906; augmented, edited and republished by the illustrious author in 1911 as The Devil's Dictionary. Unlike other editions which modify, tone down and make moronic additions to Bierce's original Devil's Dictionary, presented here are the complete contents of the 1911 edition without deletions, modifications or embellishments, of any kind, which might diminish the impact of the original politically incorrect collection; hence, the redundantly worded description of this volume as "Complete and Unabridged". This editorial license would surely have caused Bierce to go ballistic if he were still alive.
Ambrose Bierce was an extraordinary individual: a veteran of the American Civil War, renowned writer, political pundit, social commentator and, in many ways, a philosopher who was ahead of his time. His mysterious disappearance, in 1914 during the Mexican Revolution, was the subject of the movie: Old Gringo.
Shortly before he vanished, he wrote to a friend: "Good-bye - if you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags please know that I think that is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico - ah, that is euthanasia".
His own definition of cynic suited him well:
"CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision."
Download Description
The Devil's Dictionary was begun in a weekly paper in 1881. In this book , Ambrose Bierce skewers far more the world of politics, but it is the political realm where Bierce's observations are astonishingly and depressingly relevant a century later. Please Note: This book is in easy to read true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. This eBook has bookmarks at Chapter Headings and is fully printable.
Customer Reviews:
A most accurate Dictionary.......2007-08-28
.
If you, from time-to-time, need a little whimsy in your day; a little humor to add a smile when else it would not shine, then open to any page and read at will. You will be rewarded with a chuckle and perhaps a laugh and perhaps a new perspective on the word you just learned.
If you think you have a potent vocabulary, read this book; because you will get the most from it. These definitions, while not literal, are in fact most accurate and as it seems, timeless.
It must have been a great privilege to know and converse with such a man as Ambrose Bierce.
review of the Devil's Dictionary.......2007-05-16
Sharp-wittewd and pointed "defitions" of common day words from the 1800's that still hold humor and truth.
An Authentic Classic.......2007-02-08
This is a wonderful book. It shows that Bierce was a truly modern realist with a sense of humor. Bierce's definitions were pithy and funny one hundred years ago, and they still are.
This particular edition is a reprint of Bierce's original authorized edition which is becoming hard to find. Most publishers seem to feel the need to delete some of the politically incorrect definitions that were part of the time and place of America around the turn of the twentieth century. Others can't seem to help themselves; they add their own definitions which are often not funny or clever and are nowhere near authentic. It is like having an amateur artist add a few brushstrokes, here and there, to a Rembrandt painting. This edition does not do that injustice to this wonderful book.
Good Read.......2007-01-10
It was an excellent read and I could not put it down. Very tantalizing for anyone who prefers to be pulled into a story.
A great addition to your collection.......2006-01-11
Well worth having in your personal collection -- very entertaining. :)
Book Description
Untitled
Macromedia Flash MX ActionScripting: Advanced Training From the Source teaches readers ActionScript using a hands-on, project-based approach. This book will be different in several ways. Instead of just explaining how scripting works, explains scripting by translating real-life activities into scripts, so that users can begin to see the association of how programming and scripting is something they instinctively already know how to do. Readers will be shown many methodologies and techniques for building nearly thirty real-life Flash ActionScript projects, including sample games, wireless applications, Web sites, and more, enabling them to work faster and more efficiently. The companion CD-ROM contains all project files and images necessary for each project in the book.
Product Description
Includes 20 solos from big Beatles hits arranged for classical guitar, complete with left-hand and right-hand fingering. Songs include: All My Loving And I Love Her Can't Buy Me Love Fool on the Hill From a Window Hey Jude If I Fell Let It Be Michelle Norwegian Wood Obla Di Ticket to Ride Yesterday and more. Features arrangements and an introduction by Joe Washington, as well as his helpful hints on classical technique and detailed notes on how to play each song. The book also covers parts and specifications of the classical guitar, tuning, and Joe's 'Strata System' - an easy-reading system applied to chord diagrams.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book for moderately advanced guitarists.......2007-08-23
This book features some great arrangements of classic Beatles songs. All the songs are written for the advanced player, though a beginner can at least pick out the melodies. Some arrangments have as many as three parts with lots of long position changes, but the good news is that you probably already know the tunes, so this makes picking through the songs much easier. I would have given the product five stars if it had come with a CD featuring the songs as arranged, so that for the songs I don't know as well or for the more complex arrangements I could hear what it was supposed to sound like, but otherwise, this book will give you hours of enjoyable study and some hand-clapping, smiling audience members once you master these great songs.
A good idea.......2007-06-14
I am not a Beatles' fan, but a classical guitar one, who enjoys to play it. I found the idea of an arragement of the principal Beatles' hits for classical guitar very good. This field was almost empty. The score is harmonically well made and the design well presented. Highly recommended.
Timeless Classics.......2005-08-24
This song book has excellent arrangements of Beatle classics for guitar replete with styles conducive to certain finger picking styles. Some of the songs require more of an advanced-level playing, such as "YEsterday" and "Norwegian Wood."
Good, clear explanations are included in this book. This is definitely a book for an intermediate to advanced guitarist. No doubt listeners will be just as delighted with the results of this book as players.
Excellent book - Yes - And you can hear too.......2005-08-17
I agree with all the positive reviews here. These are beautiful arrangements, and the selection is unusual. Sure there's chestnuts like Yesterday, but there's even hard-to-find arrangements of Cry Baby Cry, I'm So Tired and Across The Universe. Finally this year (2005) Larry Beekman, the author, has released a CD of all 30 solos with Guitarist's Forum at gfmusic. It's so much easier to learn the tunes now. Enjoy!
excellent book.......2005-02-12
Fourteen of the arrangements in this book and in the Joe Washington book have been recorded by Michael Lucarelli, a classical guitarist living in Salt Lake City and are available on the web. Lucarelli recorded them exactly as written.
Book Description
STARTING SUDOKU? THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!
Sudoku, the number-placing logic game that’s like a cross between a Rubik’s Cube and a crossword puzzle, isn’t just for puzzle experts. Easy Sudoku for Everyone is perfect for puzzle fiends of all ages, total beginners, and anyone who wants to go from novice to Sudoku master. And you’ll be learning from the best—Carol Vorderman is the international Sudoku expert and the author of the wildly popular books Master Sudoku and Carol Vorderman’s Massive Book of Sudoku. Here she explains the rules of the game, gives her signature tips and tricks in easy-to-understand language, and offers 120 simple puzzles so you can gradually improve your game. Now anyone can become a Sudoku expert!
Customer Reviews:
Too easy.......2007-02-11
This might be a good book for someone who has never tried Sudoku before. I was in that category, but after a couple of the puzzles, it was just way too easy and boring. There was no mental stimulation.
Average customer rating:
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Easy Sudoku for Everyone
Carol Vorderman
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Sudoku
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
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ASIN: B000OSNI8E |
Average customer rating:
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Satellite Invasion of India
S. C. Bhatt
Manufacturer: South Asia Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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General
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General
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Transportation
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ASIN: 8121204836 |
Book Description
on cable and satellite tv, issues of politics, cutural policy
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- Women, Art and Power and Other Essays (Icon Editions)
- 930 Matchbook Advertising Cuts of the Twenties and Thirties (Pictorial Archive Series)
- African Rock Art: Paintings and Engravings on Stone
- Alberto Giacometti: Myth, Magic, and the Man
- All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers
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