Race-ing Art History: Critical Readings in Race and Art History

Book Description

Race-ing Art History is the first comprehensive anthology to place issues of racial representation squarely on the canvas. Within these pages are representations of Nubians in ancient art, the great tradition of Western masters such as Manet and Picasso, and contemporary work by lesser known artists of color.

Assembled chronologically, these essays draw upon multiculturalism, postcolonialism, and critical race theory to confront the longstanding tradition of art as a means of looking at "the other." The essays address important questions about racial visibility and racial politics, asking whether modern concepts of race can be imposed upon ancient art, whether there is a link between pictorial realism and Orientalism, and how today's artists and critics can engage our visual culture's inherent racialized dimension.

Richly illustrated, this pioneering volume lays the groundwork for a better understanding of the complex and shifting category of race and its significance in our visual culture and everyday lives. Unmatched in historical scope and presentation, Race-ing Art History will be the essential guide to the opportunities and challenges involved in integrating race into the study of art. A discussion guide is available at www.routledge-ny.com/pinderguide. Also includes an 8-page color insert.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting re-boot story.......2007-04-17

Back in 1986, when this story was first published, I was just barely beyond the learning to walk stage chronologically. As I got older, I started reading comic books. Superman began to take his place as my favorite title. People recommended that I read his 86 re-boot and so I as a first step ordered this book. I have to say that Ther Man of Steel: Vol 1 is no doubt an incredible piece of writing from John Byrne. in the near future, I intend on buying subsequent volumes to learn more about my favorite heroes beginnings. At the same time and not to go to far off topic, I also liked the PRE-CRISIS superman. I understand why he had to be re-booted though. This book is a must read for any Superman fan.

Best Superman Ever!.......2007-01-10

John Byrne does the best Superman ever!

In the mid-eighties, DC asked John Byrne, who had written a long run of The Fantastic Four, to revamp Superman, who was about fifty years old at the time. In what I would consider typical "Marvel style," Byrne added characterization and scientific explanation to the Superman mythos as he reinvented classic characters and retold their stories. His beautiful art work and excellent story-telling ability make these comics a JOY to read!

I would STRONGLY recommend that you purchase all FOUR volumes of John Byrne's Superman; each one picks up right where the last one left off. When I was finished reading them, I purchased the rest of Byrne's run on the Superman comics; they were that good.

The Man of Steel gets a reboot.......2006-10-07

In 1986, DC Comics commissioned writers to create "reboot" stories for their three largest properties: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Two of those reboots became some of the most famous comics ever written: Frank Miller's BATMAN: YEAR ONE, and John Byrne's SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL.

THE MAN OF STEEL was originally a 6-issue miniseries. Issue 1 dealt with the destruction of Krypton, Clark's discovery that he was adopted, and Clark's invention of his alter-ego, "Superman". Issue 2 involved Superman's first rescues in Metropolis, the appearance of mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, and the beginning of Lois Lane's infatuation with the Man of Steel. In Issue 3, Superman travels to Gotham City to arrest Batman, but instead comes to accept Batman's vigilante methods as the two battle the villainous Magpie. Billionaire Lex Luthor tests Superman's abilities in Issue 4, ultimately being arrested by Superman at the Metropolis mayor's command ("You can't arrest me," Luthor says. "I'm Lex Luthor!"); Luthor vows to take down Superman. In Issue 5, Luthor's attempts at cloning Superman fail as they discover that he is not a mutation, but an alien lifeform; the result is the deformed Bizarro. In the final issue, Issue 6, Superman is haunted by a hologram of his father, Jor-El; he learns his otherwordly origins while dealing with the pain he inflicted on Lana Lang by telling her his secret and then disappearing after high school.

THE MAN OF STEEL is notable for many reasons besides being the Superman reboot. For one thing, here Superman is not born on Krypton and then sent to Earth; he travels through space in a "birthing matrix", where he develops before finally being born on Earth. The most important change of Byrne's comics is that Clark Kent becomes the real person, while Superman is the alter-ego; almost always Superman is shown as being the true person with Clark Kent as the alter-ego. Using Clark Kent as Kal-El's true identity was also used on the hit TV series LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN in the 1990s. The final major change is Lex Luthor, who previously was no more than a brilliant evil scientist, but here becomes the third richest man in the world, a ruthless businessman.

John Byrne's writing is great. It moves fast, it's exciting, and it lets us feel how Superman feels. He uses each character and situation to further the story, and in the end it all works extremely well. My only complaint would be the dialogue. While Frank Miller revolutionized comic book dialogue with his realistic, straightforward, 40s noir-style dialogue, Byrne's dialogue is like that of old: hokey and unbelievable. Some of the characters are incredibly outspoken. Byrne makes Superman explain each and every move to the fullest; Batman rambles on in the campy fashion of his 60s TV series, coming across as a far nicer and more chatty character than the Batman who appeared in works like BATMAN: YEAR ONE and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

Byrne's artwork, inked by Dick Giordano and colored by Tom Ziuko, is excellent. Not excellent in a film-quality, panoramic sort of way, a la SIN CITY or WATCHMEN, but excellent in an above-average, classic comic sort of way. The artwork isn't extraodinarily complex, but it is colorful, vivid, and pronounced. Byrne's drawings of Superman/Clark Kent are especially wonderful.

All in all, SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL is great. The writing's great, save for the campy dialogue, but even that just seems to add to the charm of the comic. The artwork's great. It's not an incredible comic, but it's interesting, fun, and well-made, a fitting reboot for the ultimate superhero. If you're trying to decide between the 2004 reboot, SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT, and this 1986 reboot, I'd recommend the '86 reboot. A superb re-telling of the Man of Steel's origins.

Awsome, a fun book to read.......2006-05-24

This is worth it just to see a the first post-crisis Batman Superman meeting.

Empy and Over-rated.......2006-04-16

By all means this series should have worked. It's John Byrne and it's in the 1980s. He's at his peak. I wanted it to work but frankly, this is a terrible story.
I think the worst injustice Byrne commited to this revamping of Superman was the poor characterisation. Awfully done. It's a shame too, with a rich, strong supporting cast like Superman's it shouldn't have been that hard to pull off. But instead the characters don't feel real, don't talk real and they certainly don't act real. That's the impression that I got from this whole series.
Lois Lane came off as a complete snob and competitively obessed, sort of like Monica Geller from "Friends" except without the charm.
Lana Lang was pathetic. Her life turned into a wreck because Clark admitted his dual identity? Gimme a break. Just read it (it's in the last chapter) and you'll know what I mean.
Jimmy Olsen. I don't know if it's just me but I'm tired of the "gosh-oh-golly, gee willikers, ain't ever gonna grow up" wide-eyed, juvenile Jimmy Olsen in the Superman books. I was hoping Byrne would give the kid some respect and have the common sense that that character's old, and it was lame to begin with back in the 1850's or so when he was introduced.
And Clark. Making him a big high school jock was such a big mistake. They did it right in the sappy, teen drama series, Smallville, by Clark's parent's forbidding him to play any sports and so he was refused of ever being a popular athlete and school hero, and came off as more of a down to earth, everybody-could relate-to-him kind of kid.
And for some reason Clark seemed like a robot. A machine programmed by John Byrne. It's most likely beause of his awful dialogue and how everything was cliche.
It had potential, the mini-series. It certainly had great artwork, no denying that (that's why it got the two stars). But in the end I can sum it all up by saying it left me empty. If it was given more time to develop perhaps something meaningful would have come out. The potential was there but ultimately it fell short.
If you want to read a good Superman story read anything Dan Jurgen wrote afterwards. Read the entire saga of the death and return of Superman. Sure it was over-hyped and just a retarded way to boost sales (and boy did it work) but the writers still did their job and pulled out a great story. If your Superman fix is craving for a story that starts right from the beginning, you won't do yourself wrong by renting the first Superman movie on DVD. It is arguably the best comic-book movie ever made. But order this book only if you're a die-hard Superman or Byrne fan.

Superman the Man of Steel: Doomsday!, Vol 1, No 19

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Superman the Man of Steel: Doomsday!, Vol 1, No 19

Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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The Death of Superman

ASIN: B000AS63SA

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Adventures of Superman, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000RWCC6Q

Book Description

31 perfect golf shots from the pen of P.G. Wodehouse. Play the game the P.G. Wodehouse way—with wit, charm, and a touch of mischief. You'll discover:
• How love on the links can lead to the worst kinds of hazards.
• A nation where golf is God and all the subjects are in heaven.
• Wagers in the rough that can drive millionaires to distraction.
• The terrors of teeing off, the frustrations on the fairway, the perils of putting,
and much, much more!
Stories that will keep you on course...and keep you laughing!

Customer Reviews:

A hole in one !.......2007-09-27

It`s a nice hole in one , for all the 36 handicaps ! . Enjoy , read this book and your slices and hooks will be painless . Evem if you play with your wife/husband !!!

Get it now.......2007-07-22

If you or someone you know likes golf,OR if you or someone you know likes P.G.Wodehouse,I promise you cant go wrong with this book. All of his golfing stories are here and they are all top notch. A keeper.

Its a classic.......2005-04-05

The manner in which Wodehouse has developed the characters in the stories is indeed amazing. One hilarius feature I noticed in many of the stories is the attempt made by the victim (listener) to escape from the oldest member's clutches whenever he begins to narrate a story.

Wodehouse is at the top of his form in this one. Die hard Wodehouse fans should not die without reading this one.

I hate golf. I love this........2004-03-05

Great literature is supposed to bring you an appreciation of something you hadn't considered before. Wodehouse's golf stories did it for me like few others. None are terribly subtle--most are told by the Oldest Member, who on the first half-page collars a helpless younger golfer and tells him a story that turns out to be worth staying for. The narration is slightly sarcastic, and there are only two types of stories at heart: guy and girl made for each other get married because of golf, or guy uses golf to avoid girl unfit for him. There's always a subplot of a bad golfer breaking 100 or two longtime rivals in an 18 hole match, but nothing seems to get reused.

Despite using upper-crust characters in his stories, Wodehouse's work exhibits only a fake pretension. Plus there are cool names and recurring characters such as the golf champ Sandy McHoots. It's a bit more comprehensible than some Yoknapathawpa nonsense. A love triangle through three stories features a poet who(gasp) recites his poetry while people focus loses a golferess to a golfer, almost regains her, and then tries to learn golf courting her sister. Nobody is evil, although some people deserve--and get--a good comic socking.

But what makes Wodehouse appealing is how his characters are comically obsessed with golf. I have better things to be obsessed with, but I was able to connect with this and recognize how Wodehouse laughs at them. After I stopped laughing.

I've never read a collection of stories more insightful, easy to follow and enjoyable.

Please Play Through--I Can't Put This Book Down.......2003-09-04

As someone who's idea of a good day at golf is riding around in the cart with beer and nachos, I wondered if this particular PGW collection would hold my interest. But the golf stories rank among his very best, even for someone who doesn't know a bogie from a birdie. "The Coming of Gowf," "The Purification of Rodney Spelvin," and most others in this volume fall in the stack I read over and over. Ranging more widely, I find this applies to every sport Plum takes a pen to, from Rugger to Cricket. Another subject he has a sixth sense for is animals. I avoided for a long time the PGW Bestiary, but if the stories of Geofrey the cat (sp.?) or Ukridge and the dogs, or the cats re: Claude and Eustace's initiation, or for that matter, the ubiquitous broken-down steeds that broke gents with sporting blood are always putting a spot on--if these were the only stories Wodehouse ever wrote, those fortunate enough to find them would still be devouring the full repertoire. Fortunately, there seems to be a PGW renaissance, with everything being reprinted (such as this omnibus). So now my "best stories list" runs: Jeeves, Drones, Mulliner, animals, golf, but the list reads just as well from the bottom up.

The Golf Omnibus: Selected Stories read by Simon Cadell (BBC Audio Collection)

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The Golf Omnibus: Selected Stories read by Simon Cadell (BBC Audio Collection)
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: The Mind's Eye
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 155935089X

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Back Swings: A Golf Omnibus
James, Y. Bartlett
Manufacturer: Yeoman House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Golf | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0975467654

Product Description

A compilation of the best golf writing by James Y. Bartlett, longtime golf columnist for Forbes FYI magazine, and dozens of other publications. Essays, profiles, travel pieces and features cover all aspects of the royal and ancient game with humor and wit. Foreword by Christopher Buckley, who says: "Bartlett's a damn fine writer who knows his stuff and knows how to make it interesting." Reading Back Swings is like a graduate degree in golfology.

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Golf Addict Omnibus
George Houghton
Manufacturer: Country Life Limited - London
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M6XM7U

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THE GOLF OMNIBUS
WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: HUTCHINSON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S6PNRQ

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The Golf Omnibus
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Bonanza Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OP9VH4

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The Golf Omnibus
P.G. WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: SOLD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OP1WVW

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The Golf Omnibus
P.G. WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: Barrie and Jenkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWUBZ4

The Golf Omnibus - Thirty-One Humorous Tales From the Green by the Master of Comic Fiction

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The Golf Omnibus - Thirty-One Humorous Tales From the Green by the Master of Comic Fiction
P.G. WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: Wings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GHEPO4

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THE GOLF OMNIBUS
Wodehouse
Manufacturer: HUTCHINSON (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGSH5K

Book Description

Renowned Flash wizard and innovator Robert Penner reveals the fascinating programming and design concepts behind his signature creations. Detailing his groundbreaking designs, this book showcases Penner’s work that merges math and design with Flash. You'll get an inside look at his sophisticated and unique approach to design--which incorporates advanced ActionScript programming--and discover exclusive techniques associated with some of the most groundbreaking interactive designs ever created.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Incredible.......2007-03-09

Ok. Every body knows that Flash 8/9 has now a better OOP than MX. Also, every body knows that Flash no longer use structures like movieClip.prototype etc.

But what Robert Penner's books offers is a great explanation about Math and its possibilities in Flash. Vectors, 2D and 3D simulation with an elegant and well formed codes. This book opens a great land to be explored. With a important difference: now you have a brilliant GPS! :-)

If you do not know how the stunning flash effects are made, get it. Every thing will be, after all, clear like water.

Brilliant.......2006-09-14

Knowledge directly from the man who we can thank for the easing equations used in many of the tweening classes out there. This book is great. The topics are somewhat diverse, and all very intriguing. The examples are written for AS1 however that doesn't matter that much unless you are concerned with applying the code in an OO manner, anyway it's kinda fun trying to re-write the code in AS2. This and Moock's books have been the most helpful in getting to understand what actionscript is all about.

Thank You Robert Penner!

Timeless and fascinating book on Flash.......2005-11-29

What happens when a math whiz turned philosophy major learns how to program in Flash? The answer is one of the most interesting Flash programming books ever written. Robert Penner, well known for his experimental site, wrote a brilliant book outlining how to combine math and programming to create stunning visual effects in Flash MX.

This is not a programming reference. This book takes you beyond the world of simple ActionScript and introduces you to object oriented programming, motion in 2D, motion in 3D, physics, drawing/coloring, and his impressive array of case studies.

Robert Penner's writing style is clear and concise. If you are familiar with Flash programming, the book is an easy read. Following along with his explanations is a breeze. He introduces a concept and goes in great detail explaining how the concept can be created in Flash. The code is not simple ActionScript syntax that is easily understandable at first glance. A lot of the code involves Penner's own groundbreaking work and research.

What separates this book from the other Flash books is that he applies the concepts he teaches in case studies and example animations. What use is learning how to move objects in a three-dimensional space if there is no way to apply in the real world? The downloadable files for this book are filled with source files and example animations referred to throughout the book.

After reading this book, you will definitely gain a better understanding of Flash and programming. It delves into the complex Flash programming concepts that many other books shy away from. Even if you think you know all there is to know about ActionScript, this book will teach you a few interesting tricks you might not have known. Sure, ActionScript 3.0 is now out, and the book could use an update, but it is not that difficult to modernize the code. A big bonus to me was to actually have the algorithms on the four fascinating case studies - aurora borealis, snowstorm, fractal dancer, and cyclone. That information for a multimedia programmer is timeless and transcends implementation language.

not for beginners, indispensible for everyone else.......2004-05-07

granted, anyone who doesn't have a basic hold of flash development (that means actionscript folks) will be lost. However, those who do have a little experience should read it >TWICE. I have found it to be enlightening and enjoyable. Penners methods will help you get a better handle on Actionscript, OOP and even regular daily life. he has developed some really interesting ideas not just about how to use actionscript, but how to approach any substantial task. The book will bring you up to speed on the math concepts you need to create dynamic graphics (2D&3D coordinate systems and trigonometry) and teach you good practices in code desing and project management.
I hope he publishes a second edition (for ActionScript 2) soon, i'd love to see what he does with the language now that it has matured.

Beginners beware!.......2004-04-22

If you are trying to learn how to use Flash, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU!!! The inclusion of the word Flash in the title is very misleading - should have said "ActionScript Programming" instead.

Penner spends too much time expounding on his philosophical mumbo-jumbo and explaining how HE has reached such a level of excellence! Can you say EGO??? I'm not going to say that he isn't talented, I would argue strongly to the contrary. But, I didn't buy the book to learn about Robert Penner, I bought the book to learn about Flash programming.

He does have some very well written ActionScript classes that address the physics of animation. If you've never been exposed to a physics class before, he does a pretty nice job summarizing the topic and how it applies to motion. This book should help a programmer who knows Flash, but not the physics of motion.

He does not, however, give you examples to actually tie the classes into Flash or how to format an ActionScript file. If only he had included a chapter on how to incorporate his code into Flash, it would have been a much better book.

If you are looking for a book to learn Flash, don't stop here - come back after you've found one.

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Robert Penner's Programming Macromedia Flash MX
Robert Penner
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/OsborneMedia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OG5GUO

Book Description

The English invented the idea of musical "classics". Eighteenth-century England was the first country where old musical works were performed regularly and reverentially, and where a collective notion of such works--"ancient music"--first appeared. This is the first book to explore the
formation of musical classics in regard to repertory and social context. It examines the performance of old music in eighteenth-century England, from the interest in music of the Elizabethan period through the performance of works by Henry Purcell, Arcangelo Corelli, and other English and Italian
composers, to the development of festivals that featured choral-orchestral works of Purcell and Handel. The book examines closely the political and social reasons for these developments. In addition, it shows how they laid the groundwork for the classical music tradition of the nineteenth
century.

Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology

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Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology
William Weber
Manufacturer: Clarendon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2M4JY

The Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology.: An article from: Notes

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The Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology.: An article from: Notes
Robert Shay
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 1993. The length of the article is 2501 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: The Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology.
Author: Robert Shay
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 1993
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: v50 Issue: n2 Page: p540(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

RISE OF MUSICAL CLASSICS IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ENGLAND, THE: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology

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RISE OF MUSICAL CLASSICS IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ENGLAND, THE: A Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology
William Weber
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLI0ZC

The Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: a Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology

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The Rise of Musical Classics in Eighteenth-Century England: a Study in Canon, Ritual, and Ideology
William Weber
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OL824G

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365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities: A Year's Worth Of Ideas For Tv-Free, Video-Free, And Computer Game-Free Entertainment
Steven J. Bennett , and Ruth Bennett
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0738210005
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Book Description

A year's worth of unplugged activities to keep kids entertained and keep the family connected.

Recent studies show that too much time spent in front of the television can lead to attention deficit disorder in children. But most parents don't need science to tell them that there are better ways to entertain kids than to prop them in front of "electronic babysitters." Full of amazingly simple, easy-to-implement suggestions, The Ultimate Book of Unplugged Family Activities provides a year's worth of inspiring alternatives.

Here are ideas for entertaining kids while you cook or for turning sick days into indoor crafts days; ideas for distracting kids while waiting in a long line or for engaging them in games during a long car trip. With The Ultimate Book of Unplugged Family Activities, parents can turn spare time into share time, as well as too-much-time-on their hands into time well spent. Comprehensive and constantly creative, it is a book every household should have within reach.

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Kudos to Ideos

Innovation for All

Innovation and creativity "how-to" guide

El arte de innovar estilo IDEO

Skip it and go right to 10 Faces

The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm
Tom Kelley , Tom Peters , and Tom Peters
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO's Strategies for Defeating the Devil's Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization

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Seeing What's Next: Using Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change

ASIN: 0385499841
Release Date: 2001-01-16

Amazon.com

IDEO, the world's leading design firm, is the brain trust that's behind some of the more brilliant innovations of the past 20 years--from the Apple mouse, the Polaroid i-Zone instant camera, and the Palm V to the "fat" toothbrush for kids and a self-sealing water bottle for dirt bikers. Not surprisingly, companies all over the world have long wondered what they could learn from IDEO, to come up with better ideas for their own products, services, and operations. In this terrific book from IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founder David Kelley), IDEO finally delivers--but thankfully not in the step-by-step, flow-chart-filled "process speak" of most how-you-can-do-what-we-do business books. Sure, there are some good bulleted lists to be found here--such as the secrets of successful brainstorming, the qualities of "hot teams," and, toward the end, 10 key ingredients for "How to Create Great Products and Services," including "One Click Is Better Than Two" (the simpler, the better) and "Goof Proof" (no bugs).

But The Art of Innovation really teaches indirectly (not to mention enlightens and entertains) by telling great stories--mainly, of how the best ideas for creating or improving products or processes come not from laboriously organized focus groups, but from keen observations of how regular people work and play on a daily basis. On nearly every page, we learn the backstories of some now-well-established consumer goods, from recent inventions like the Palm Pilot and the in-car beverage holder to things we nearly take for granted--like Ivory soap (created when a P&G worker went to lunch without turning off his soap mixer, and returned to discover his batch overwhipped into 99.44 percent buoyancy) and Kleenex, which transcended its original purpose as a cosmetics remover when people started using the soft paper to wipe and blow their noses. Best of all, Kelley opens wide the doors to IDEO's vibrant, sometimes wacky office environment, and takes us on a vivid tour of how staffers tackle a design challenge: they start not with their ideas of what a new product should offer, but with the existing gaps of need, convenience, and pleasure with which people live on a daily basis, and that IDEO should fill. (Hence, a one-piece children's fishing rod that spares fathers the embarrassment of not knowing how to teach their kids to fish, or Crest toothpaste tubes that don't "gunk up" at the mouth.)

Granted, some of their ideas--like the crucial process of "prototyping," or incorporating dummy drafts of the actual product into the planning, to work out bugs as you go--lend themselves more easily to the making of actual things than to the more common organizational challenge of streamlining services or operations. But, if this big book of bright ideas doesn't get you thinking of how to build a better mousetrap for everything from your whole business process to your personal filing system, you probably deserve to be stuck with the mousetrap you already have. --Timothy Murphy

Book Description

IDEO, the widely admired, award-winning design and development firm that brought the world the Apple mouse, Polaroid's I-Zone instant camera, the Palm V, and hundreds of other cutting-edge products and services, reveals its secrets for fostering a culture and process of continuous innovation.

There isn't a business in America that doesn't want to be more creative in its thinking, products, and processes. At many companies, being first with a concept and first to market are critical just to survive. In The Art of Innovation, Tom Kelley, general manager of the Silicon Valley based design firm IDEO, takes readers behind the scenes of this wildly imaginative and energized company to reveal the strategies and secrets it uses to turn out hit after hit.

IDEO doesn't buy into the myth of the lone genius working away in isolation, waiting for great ideas to strike. Kelley believes everyone can be creative, and the goal at his firm is to tap into that wellspring of creativity in order to make innovation a way of life. How does it do that? IDEO fosters an atmosphere conducive to freely expressing ideas, breaking the rules, and freeing people to design their own work environments. IDEO's focus on teamwork generates countless breakthroughs, fueled by the constant give-and-take among people ready to share ideas and reap the benefits of the group process. IDEO has created an intense, quick-turnaround, brainstorm-and-build process dubbed "the Deep Dive."

In entertaining anecdotes, Kelley illustrates some of his firm's own successes (and joyful failures), as well as pioneering efforts at other leading companies. The book reveals how teams research and immerse themselves in every possible aspect of a new product or service, examining it from the perspective of clients, consumers, and other critical audiences.

Kelley takes the reader through the IDEO problem-solving method:

>Carefully observing the behavior or "anthropology" of the people who will be using a product or service

>Brainstorming with high-energy sessions focused on tangible results

>Quickly prototyping ideas and designs at every step of the way

>Cross-pollinating to find solutions from other fields

>Taking risks, and failing your way to success

>Building a "Greenhouse" for innovation

IDEO has won more awards in the last ten years than any other firm of its kind, and a full half-hour Nightline presentation of its creative process received one of the show's highest ratings. The Art of Innovation will provide business leaders with the insights and tools they need to make their companies the leading-edge, top-rated stars of their industries.

Customer Reviews:

Kudos to Ideos.......2007-08-28

Excellent book with good insights. If you are in the business of innovation, this is one book that you shouldn't miss. I also recommend EIGHTSTORM: 8-Step Brainstorming for Innovative Managers.

Innovation for All.......2007-06-29

Through anecdotes, Kelley demonstrates how stumbling blocks to innovation can be overcome. He shows an appreciation for experimentation, momentum, and embraces failure as a true path to knowing. Failed prototypes are wonderful learning tools. Kelley's perspective keeps spirits high. He leaves much of the innovative process open ended - nearly encouraging innovation on innovating.

Interestingly, Kelley notes how medicine is becoming personalized and that the future can not be perfectly predicted. Still, he says we must aim at it. This was an important nugget of wisdom for me, a research coordinator at a think-tank-like public health research group, the Healthcare Innovation and Technology lab at Columbia University. On a daily basis we deal with innovation to improve healthcare and need to effectively innovate. Given that we tread a very specific territory - health and technology - and that Kelley's book could be so useful to us, it is obvious that he really has something to offer to everyone.

Innovation and creativity "how-to" guide.......2007-06-07

The Art of Innovation explains many of IDEO's creative techniques and in so doing paints a picture of the physical context in which all that creativity occurs, namely IDEO's office, your average geek's idea of paradise brimming with high-tech prototypes, foam cubes, "tech box" caddies with giant Post-Its and coloring pens ... and yes, it does look more like a playschool than Dilbertesque gray cubicle-land. Teamwork, friendship and a shared passion for helping clients innovate is clearly what binds people together and stimulates their creativity, while a supportive and forgiving management structure doesn't just tolerate weirdness, it actively encourages it. IDEO seems to have taken Tom Peters' advice "If you want to do weird, hire weird people" to the next level. In IDEO-land, "normal" people would probably stand out a mile.

Two creative techniques - brainstorming and prototyping - are particularly well described, in a way that encourages the reader to try something different. I've learnt some new tricks and even started applying them since reading the book.

El arte de innovar estilo IDEO.......2007-06-01

IDEO ha hecho de la innovación un arte, el cual es un proceso sistematizado, con pasos muy definidos, congruentes y faciles de llevar por las personas que conforman dentro sus empresas los equipos de innovacion y diseño.

Skip it and go right to 10 Faces.......2007-03-19

I recently read both this book and the Ten Faces of Innovation. My recomendation is to skip this book. It is written more like an advertisement for IDEO and was left feeling like Tom has crossed the line into arrogance. If you read it as a stand alone book there is a lot of useful information. However most of the concepts are covered in Ten Faces. If you have time read both books but if time is of the essence then jump right into the Ten Faces, you won't be disappointed.

The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm

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The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm
Tom Kelley; Tom Peters; Tom Peters; Foreword-Jonathan Littman
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QY51IQ

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