The Psychology of Art and the Evolution of the Conscious Brain (Bradford Books)

Book Description

How did the human brain evolve so that consciousness of art could develop? In The Psychology of Art and the Evolution of the Conscious Brain, Robert Solso describes how a consciousness that evolved for other purposes perceives and creates art.

Drawing on his earlier book Cognition and the Visual Arts and ten years of new findings in cognitive research (as well as new ideas in anthropology and art history), Solso shows that consciousness developed gradually, with distinct components that evolved over time. One of these components is an adaptive consciousness that includes the ability to imagine objects that are not present--an ability that allows us to create (and perceive) visual art.

Solso describes the neurological, perceptual, and cognitive sequence that occurs when we view art, and the often inexpressible effect that a work of art has on us. He shows that there are two aspects to viewing art: nativistic perception--the synchronicity of eye and brain that transforms electromagnetic energy into neuro-chemical codes--which is "hard-wired" into the sensory-cognitive system; and directed perception, which incorporates personal history and knowledge--the entire set of our expectations and past experiences. Both forms of perception are part of the appreciation of art, and both are products of the evolution of the conscious brain over hundreds of thousands of years.

Solso also investigates the related issues of neurological and artistic perception of the human face, the effects of visual illusions, and the use of perspective. The many works of art used as examples are drawn from a wide range of artistic traditions, from ancient Egypt to Africa and India and the European Renaissance.

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The Psychology of Art and the Evolution of the Conscious Brain
RL Solso
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQLZNQ

Book Description

Action, romance, and historical intrigue help make Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin, the tale of a wandering swordsman set against the backdrop of the Meiji Restoration, one of the most popular Shonen Jump titles among fans to date. Himura Kenshin, once an assassin (or hitokiri) of ferocious power, now fights to protect the honor of those in need.

Customer Reviews:

Death of a Dream.......2006-12-14

Kenshin's battle with Enishi comes to a tragic conclusion. Unable to accept the outcome, Kenshin retreats to the Fallen Village to await death. When the others find him, he is completely broken. When they ask him to rise and take Enishi on again, he says he is tired and asks them to leave him alone so he can "rest in peace".

While in the Fallen Village, Kenshin is befriended by a mysterious old man, known simply as Geezer. Is he just a crazy old coot, or is there something more to him?

This volume also marks the reunion of the Oniwabanshuu and the Kenshin-gumi as Aoshi and Misao come to Tokyo to lend a hand.

Is it too late? Will Kenshin's heart remain shattered forever or will he somehow find a way to pick up the peaces?

Enishi takes his vengence..........2006-02-28

When last we left our heroes/heroines, Enishi, the long-lost brother of Kenshin's first wife was stalking towards Kaoru, Kenshin's second/current love, with a murderous gleam in his eyes... in the aftermath, all that's left is a body, eyes glazed over in death... it is enough to send Kenshin over the edge of despair and the rest of the Kenshin-gumi into grief and mourning...

Say it isn't so... Kaoru dead? Perhaps Kenshin truly is doomed to a life of perdition. All I can say is, while the cliffhanger and it's elements are predictable, it is no less disturbing to continue to see Kenshin in his fugue despite the efforts of all concerned (save for the anti-social Saitoh, of course).

Aoshi and Misao show up, too late to stop the events at the Kamiya dojo, of course, but not too late to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kaoru's murder, a task Misao and Yahiko take to with a passion and Aoshi takes with quiet deliberation.

The art is just as crisp as it has been over nearly the entire run (allowances made for the series' introductory style developing into it's permanent form).

The few drawbacks of this volume tend to be in plot and flow, as new characters are introduced rather haphazardly and old characters tend to regress to their former patterns of behavior without any real insight into their psyche... just a matter of convenience, I suppose, so the reader doesn't get bogged down by introspective flashbacks and whatnot that such delving would entail... and we do get a little, such as in Enishi's case, but the volume as a whole is just a long bridge between the important event early in the book and the TRUE fallout from it to come in the next volumes.

Customer Reviews:

From the Publisher.......2005-11-09

"Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? This innovative calendar provides all the tools required to make you a proud procrastinator. Each week presents a functional calendar grid with plenty of room for appointments, along with procrastinator wisdom, tips, and quotes; an organizational section for prioritizing your delay tactics; and ample space for doodling. The cover flaps show a full 2006 calendar, and the back of the calendar has a double-page spread for 2007. Throughout are witty lists of things to do (or not), entertaining diversions, just-in-time survival tactics, and more-for example:
●Things to do while avoiding things to do.
●Places to go to get inspired to work.
●Critical things to consider before I being working.
●People to call when I don't feel like working.
●Things to do on partially rainy days.
●How to shorten a long task list.
●Due dates and grace periods for my bills.
●10 things to tell myself when I'm feeling guilty about procrastinating.
"Lighthearted and upbeat, this calendar will keep you on track, on time, and smiling. An indispensable aid for the secret slacker in all of us! Soft cover, wire-o bound with flaps. 136 pages, size: 6 x 8 1/2. By Mark Asher. ISBN: 0-7649-3133-4. Click on the small picture to see an inside page."--© Pomegranate

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Procrastinators Planner
It is amazing
Why work when I can write a review

Procrastinator's Planner 2006
Susan Cohan Hoffman , Lila Carroll , and Jody Cohan
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Calendar

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Procrastinator's Planner 2007 Desk Calendar

ASIN: 0740753673

Customer Reviews:

Procrastinators Planner.......2006-03-16

Cute and easy to use, enough space to write what you need. Lot's of fun tidbits.

It is amazing.......2006-01-12

I just got my 2006 planner, let me tell you. It makes happy to write down how much stuff I have to do. The only problem with this is that it has no space to write down the things you need to. If they make it a little bigger, then it would be the best planner I have ever bought.

Why work when I can write a review.......2005-10-27

I don't have this yet, but I've used the 2005 version over the past year and I LOVE IT. Each week has hilarious jokes and insights on common procrastinator habits as well as helpful advice for finally getting things done (if not now, then eventually). The only reason I give it four stars is that I wish it was a little bigger - I have a lot to write for each day! Also, I wish each month began with a large 2-page view of the month as well as having a week-by-week breakdown. The Monday-Sunday format also took some getting used to, but it's been worth it! Procrastinators - don't put off buying this planner!

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The best Stooges resource book

Really good resource with some minor shortcomings

A tribute to one of the world's greatest comedy teams

The BEST Three Stooges Reference Book

Emil Sitka Would Erase the "S" in "Scrapbook"

The Three Stooges Scrapbook
Joan Howard-Maurer , Jeff Lenburg , and Greg Lenburg
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Official Three Stooges Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Knucklehead's Guide to Stoogedom--from Amalgamated Association of Morons to Ziller...

Larry the Stooge in the Middle

Moe Howard and the 3 Stooges: The Pictorial Biography of the Wildest Trio in the History of American Entertainment

One Fine Stooge: Larry Fine's Frizzy Life In Pictures

Stooges: The Men Behind The Mayhem

ASIN: 0806509465

Customer Reviews:

The best Stooges resource book.......2006-02-16

This is a fun reference book that gets into all areas of Stooge facts. Biographies of all, a history of the group, and much more . There's a fun review of Stooges merchandise and memoriobilia available that is incmplete in that many products have become available since publication. The best feature of the book, in my opinion, is the complete lsiting of everything the Stooges appeared in. They gave a complete summary, review, cast list, release date, and time for every short, feature, and appearance the Stooges ever made. They also give information about which shorts are remakes and what short they're remaking. This information is invaluable to anyone who is collecting the Stooge films. One intersting tidbit and warning is that the original times of all the movies are listed and sometimes when commercial tv stations play them, they may cut 2, 3, or even occasionally 5 minutes off of the original running time.
This is the must have refrence book for the serious and casual fan of the Stooges.

Really good resource with some minor shortcomings.......2005-12-31

This isn't your run-of-the-mill biography but rather, as the title implies, a scrapbook. There are brief biographical profiles of all 6 of the Stooges, along with Ted Healy, without whom they never would have been. There's also a chapter giving a historical overview of their career. The real reason for the book comes in the subsequent chapters. There's a lot of great chronological information on Stooges merchandise and off-shoots, particularly in the late Fifties and during the Sixties, when they were heavily being marketed to kids and surprisingly enjoyed their greatest financial success, even though they were really past their creative peak. Some people might feel they sold out by doing things such as recording albums for children and starring in cartoons, but after they were financially taken advantage of by Columbia for 25 years, I don't begrudge them anything they did when they finally were making as much money as they were worth, whether or not they were getting older and had to tone down their antics to please parents. There are also great chapters on impersonators, the boys in comic books, their ever-increasing fan base, the history of their films being shown on television, and tributes paid to them by other comedians who have been influenced by their style. The final section also gives synopses and complete cast and crew lists of all of their shorts and features any of them ever appeared in, as a team, with Ted Healy, or on their own. There's a lot going for this book to highly recommend it.

However, this book was also published in 1981. While most of the basic facts haven't changed, that's still nearly 25 years ago. A lot has happened since, and a revised updated edition really seems in order. It could have an additional chapter addressing, among other things, when and where the Stooges have been shown on television in the years since, why it's so hard to find them on tv now, and how many of their films and shorts are available on DVD and VHS. A number of their supporting cast and crew have also died in the years since this book was published. I also was beyond floored at how many of the Joe Besser-era shorts, in the final section, got so many positive reviews, and how, earlier on, his brief stint in the group was spoken of in positive glowing terms. With all due respect to him as a person and a comedian, and to the authors themselves, that's not how the majority of fans feel! Almost all fans view the 16 shorts they did with him as their worst weakest most embarrassing output, and feel that while his character was very funny in other venues, it wasn't the type of comedic personality that came across as funny when he was cast as a Stooge. The authors could at least have been honest and, without attacking him like a number of fans have, addressed the reasons for this era being their weakest. There were a number of reasons for this; Joe Besser's presence was only one reason. I was also surprised to see so many positive reviews given to a number of the later Shemp-era shorts that relied heavily on recycled footage and, later on, careful shots of the back of Joe Palma's head. Most fans also don't have very positive things to say about these shorts. Still, all in all, this is a pretty good resource volume for someone looking for something beyond the average biography.

A tribute to one of the world's greatest comedy teams.......2004-03-26

One of the co-authors of this book is Joan Howard Maurer,daughter of the late Moe Howard(1897-1975). This book has everything there is to know about the legandary Three Stooges. First,there's a historical overview which tells about the origin of the team and short biographies of all six Stooges named Moe,Larry Fine,Moe's brothers Curly and Shemp,Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita. The Stooges have made 190 short subject comedies for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1957. The first 97 featured Curly,the most popular third Stooge which were filmed between 1934 and 1946. The next 77 featured Shemp,who replaced Curly since Curly's terminal illness forced him to quit the team. Those were filmed between 1946 and 1955. After Shemp died in 1955,Joe Besser replaced him,filming the last 16 comedies between 1956 and '57. Then Besser's wife became ill and he was unwilling to leave her. So Joseph Wardell aka Curly Joe DeRita(his head was shaved like Curly Howard's) joined the team in '58 and he,Moe and Larry filmed a few movies and made a few cameo appearances in others. The Stooges "died" in 1970 after Larry suffered a paralyzing stroke confining him to a wheelchair until his death in 1975. He died January 24 that year and Moe's death followed May 4 the same year. During Wardell's tenure,the Stooges made some television cartoons bearing their likenesses. Curly died in 1952 at age 48. His heavy drinking brought on his illness. Shemp died of a massive heart attack while riding a taxicab after attending a boxing match. He was 60. Besser died in 1988 at age 80 and Wardell died 5 years later at age 83. This book also contains a filmography of all Three Stooges films with brief synopses. Some of them give filming dates. I've been a Three Stooges fan for over two decades and this book is a must for all Stooge fans.

The BEST Three Stooges Reference Book.......2003-12-07

After 20 years in print, this 1983 book remains the best book for Three Stooges fans! If you want to know all about the Stooges themselves, the team's history, the films, the records, the comic books, 50 years of collectibles & memorabilia, and so much more...

Twenty years of subsequent Stooges research has turned up some discrepancies, but overall this book is the definitive reference tool. Authors Joan Howard, who is Moe's daughter, and the Lenburg brothers created a tome that deserves an updated printing for the 2000's! (Although the current management of C3 will probably not allow that to happen.)

Since SCRAPBOOK's publication, it has been worthily joined by:
- THE COMPLETE THREE STOOGES by Jon Solomon, a detailed and worthy companion that analyses each Three Stooges film from 1930 - 1970
- Moe Howard's own autobiography, MOE HOWARD AND THE THREE STOOGES (1976) *
- And, Joan Howard's CURLY: BIOGRAPHY OF THE SUPERSTOOGE (1985) *

* Out of print, but used copies are readily available from Amazon, other online retailers, and online auction sites

... This book and the aforemtioned companions combine to make the best reference tools for any Three Stooges fan!

Emil Sitka Would Erase the "S" in "Scrapbook".......2003-07-16

Joan Howard's The Three Stooges Scrapbook has many of the same inaccuracies which were originally printed in her father's own Moe Howard and the Three Stooges (which incidentally was a much better story of the renowned comedy team). The late Emil Sitka (a popular Stooges co-star) once told me that he would always remember this work as The Three Stooges Scrapbook -- just as long as you erase the "S" in "Scrapbook"!!!

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The Three Stooges : Scrapbook -
Jeff Lenburg -
Manufacturer: Citadel Press -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PS9S50

Book Description

This comprehensive look at the recording world is the result of hundreds of in-depth interviews the author conducted with some of the biggest names in the industry. It covers everything from recording strings and horn sections to using creative production techniques on the latest musical styles. A refinement of The Expert Encyclopedia of Recording, this book presents the words of Clark and numerous world-class producers, artists, and engineers, covering the technical aspects of making music as well as philosophical insights about the art of music-making. Whether you are interested in the technical or the artistic side of the music business, this definitive book will give you the knowledge that has brought the featured producers, engineers, and composers huge industry successes and millions of record sales.

Customer Reviews:

Render unto Caesar that wich is Caesar's.......2007-02-10

I must be fair. My first review of this book (now deleted)was written from the frustration. I had enjoyed so much The Expert Encyclopedia of Recording that, when I found this one, I didn't mind the absence of the Search Inside option. I just knew this had to be a great book. When I received my copy, I was dissapointed, not by the book being bad, which isn't, but for not have had enough information about it, as to know it actually was an updated edition of the one I already owned, with different title and cover art. The one-star rating should have been directed to the publisher (and the damage he was doing to the book), not to the content itself.
Having said that, I've read many books devoted to mixing and recording, and this one is among the best; enthusiastic and instructive as few others, well structured and covering almost everything you need to know. I repeat: if you don't own The Expert Encyclopedia, don't waste a minute and get this one. In my case, I'll use it as a gift to a good friend and I know he'll appreciate it.
Most important of all, the author has shown me he is a very nice person, passionate about his work and concerned about his readers. I'd say he's even better than his book. He deserved this review.

A treasure for anybody involved in the art of recording music.......2006-03-14

Rick Clark's book is a treasure for anybody involved in the art of recording music. this book is full of rare, first-hand information by some of today's top engineers and producers. I wished the foreword (and it's a long foreword) would have gone on and on. If you've lost your belief in rock'n roll, Rick's foreword will make you a believer again. Rick Clark's knowledge about every aspect of making muic is vast, his passion for music and its makers is obvious. I've been recording, playing and producing music for a long time and learned a lot from this book. I go back to it frequently for inspiration and resources.

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Does Its Job Well Enough

Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides)
Rick Barba
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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YS: Ark of Napishtim

Shining Tears(tm) Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))

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Grandia III Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames)

ASIN: 0744005108

Book Description

BradyGames' Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Official Strategy Guide includes the following:

WALKTHROUGH — From the ominous beginning of your journey to the firey climax with the Ark, we guide you through every perilous area!
MAPS — Every important area is charted in 3D!
BOSS FIGHT TACTICS — Equip all the right items and weapons, and make all the right moves to defeat every boss in the game!
BESTIARY, WEAPONS & ITEMS — The most complete collection of data available on the characters, creatures, and tools in this richly immersive world!
ALMA ’S TRIALS — A bonus appendix to solving these critical puzzles and obtaining the maximum Emel, Gold, and experience!
PLUS EXCLUSIVE CHEATS, SECRETS, AND MORE!

Platform: PlayStation 2

Genre: Role-Playing Game

This product is available for sale in North America only.

Customer Reviews:

Does Its Job Well Enough.......2005-04-12

Since no one has posted a review for this, and due to the hit or miss nature of gaming guides, I'll take the initiative...

The guide is well written, contains no errors, and presents the information that you need to thoroughly complete the game with accuracy and organization. I really can't think of anything that the author missed. The guide does its job, though it is nothing spectacular.

Average customer rating:

A realistic investing book

Pretty much everything a beginner could want

The book that helped me to finally get it

Getting started in real estate with little or no money - no pie-in-the-sky B.S., but real, practical advice

Simple, clear and to the point

Flipping Properties: Generate Instant Cash Profits in Real Estate
William Bronchick , and Robert Dahlstrom
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Buy It, Fix It, Sell It...PROFIT

The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction

Financing Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Revised Edition

The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties

Find It, Fix It, Flip It!: Make Millions in Real Estate--One House at a Time

ASIN: 141953551X
Release Date: 2006-04-01

Book Description

Real estate investing has historically been one of the most consistent ways to achieve great wealth. Focusing on proven strategies for buying and selling properties quickly, (also called “flipping,”) Flipping Properties offers would-be investors the details on how to generate cash from this popular real estate investment method. The authors outline a step-by-step process for generating cash flow, with or without a stellar credit record, large sums of cash, or a real estate license. Guidelines help tailor a practical investing game plan for both experienced investors as well as beginners. To make a solid start, the authors reveal the essential elements of real estate transactions as well as the basics of what makes “flipping” such an appealing way to invest in real estate. Covering pre-purchase through closing and beyond, Flipping Properties is a complete reference that also includes legal forms, sample contracts, hands-on checklists and sample advertising and marketing materials designed to get properties to sell. At the heart are practical strategies to buy bargain properties, then rapidly resell them for cash profit.

Customer Reviews:

A realistic investing book.......2007-08-16

An excellent book detailing not only the rewards of investing in property, but also the difficulty associated with it. Too many authors like Carlton Sheets and Robert Allen make investing in real estate seem like a walk in the park and you can make riches in a matter of weeks. In reality, real estate investing takes work and homework. It also might take months or more likely years to see a real profit.

Pretty much everything a beginner could want .......2007-07-05

Straight and to the point; bam bam bam... all of the info is important and worthwhile. A very no foolin' around book.

The book that helped me to finally get it.......2007-06-30

I had been interested in real estate investing for quite some time, but could never quite figure out the formula for getting started. I had attended a number of local investment clubs and more often than not I was confused about the information presented and where it fell in the process of becoming an investor. After expressing this concern at an event someone recommended this book to me. I've read about a dozen or more books since that provide more detailed information on specific aspects of investment, but this one by far was the one that laid out all of the puzzle pieces in order. After reading this, I felt that at a minimum I understood enough about how the investment business worked that I knew how to get started. I wouldn't necessarily say that it was the one that helped me launch my start, but it definitely pointed me in the right direction of what I needed to work on next. I think that this book is a great source of information for the newbie investor, but most likely will not provide anything new for more experienced folks.

Getting started in real estate with little or no money - no pie-in-the-sky B.S., but real, practical advice.......2007-06-11

What makes William Bronchick's books so great is that they do not make pie-in-the-sky or get-rich-quick promises. They deal with reality, and offer real, solid advice on getting into real estate with little or no money (or with plenty, for that matter). I also appreciated the ethical underpinnings of the book, with the basic message being "if you screw your buyers, sellers, or tenants, you ultimately screw yourself" (my words, not his). Overall, this is one of the best books on real-estate investing I've ever read - I highly recommend it to all aspiring investors. Other books like Dolf deRoos's or others from the Rich Dad series may be better in terms of opening your mind and getting you interested, but Bronchick's works offer real, practical, actionable strategies.

Simple, clear and to the point.......2007-05-06

I've read quite a few books on the topic of flipping properties and this was cut to the chase unlike most. They provide sample forms that they use and warn you of gotchas to look out for. This is one that I recommend to my clients wanting to get into the investment side of Real Estate that have limited funds to start with.

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